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FROM   THE   LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


Section  t¥^>YS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Calvin  College 


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YEAR  OF  THE  CHURCH: 


HYMNS  AND  DEVOTIONAL  VERSE 


FOR  THE  SUNDAYS  AND  HOLY  DAYS 


OF  THE 


StcUstastical  ^tuv; 


WITH  BRIEF  EXPLANATIONS  OF  THEIR 


ORIGIN  AND  DESIGN. 
BY  THE  REV.  C.  M.  BUTLER. 


UTICA: 

PRESS    OF   ELI  MAYNARD, 


1839. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839,  by 
Clement  M.  Butler,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court 
of  the  United  States  for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


TO  MY  FATHER, 


THE  REV.  DAVID  BUTLER,  D.  D. 


THIS    LITTLE    WORK    IS    AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED. 


In  dedicating  this  little  work  to  you,  my  dear  father,  I  take 
this  method  of  prefacing  it  with  all  I  have  to  say  of  its  origin  and 
aim.  It  originated  in  a  season  of  leisure,  when  ill  health  had 
obliged  me  for  a  time  to  relinquish  the  charge  of  a  parish.  Its 
aim  was  to  furnish  for  the  younger  mind,  and  less  matured 
Christian  experience  of  the  religious  public,  some  sueh  exhibition 
of"  The  Year  of  the  Church,"  in  connection  with  the  devotional 
feelings  and  reflections  it  is  well  calculated  to  excite,  as  Keble 
has  provided  for  the  highest  intellect  and  the  ripest  piety.  I 
entertained  the  hope,  loo,  that  such  a  work  might  convey  a  gene- 
ral knowledge  of  the  beautiful  order  of  our  church,  in  connection 
with  its  spiritual  privileges,  to  some  who  would  not  be  likely  to 
consult  larger  works  of  a  different  character.  In  carrying  this 
plan  into  effect,  though  I  soon  found  myself  wandering,  in  some 
measure,  from  my  original  design  (which  may  be  traced  in  the 
first  few  pages)  of  giving  to  all  the  pieces  a  character  strictly 
adapted  to  the  young,  I  still  endeavored  to  attain  such  simplicity 
of  sentiment  and  expression  as  would  fit  it  tor  its  intended  purpose, 


IV. 


Such  was  the  humble  object,  my  dear  father,  which  I  had  in 
view  in  occupying  a  few  leisure  months  in  the  composition  of 
this  little  volume.  I  am  the  more  anxious  to  explain  it,  lest  it 
should,  for  a  moment,  seem  to  any  that  I  attempt,  with  my  un- 
practiced  and  humble  lyre,  to  rival  the  rich  harpings  of  him  who 
has  so  loftily  and  sweetly  sung  the  "Christian  Year."  If  it  should 
prove  unfitted  for  its  end,  I  know  that  you,  at  least,  will  look 
leniently  on  any  attempt,  however  humble,  to  promote  the  cause 
of  piety  through  the  order  of  that  church  for  which  you  have  so 
long  and  faithfully  labored.  In  that  event,  I  can  still  look  back 
gratefully  upon  the  pleasant  labor  of  its  composition,  and  have 
at  least  the  satisfaction  of  feeling,  that  in  having  sunken  into  the 
deep,  it  will  have  left  no  taint  upon  the  waters. 

The  short  notices  of  the  days  as  they  occur  have  been  taken 
chiefly  from  Bishop  Hobart's  "  Festivals  and  Fasts,"  with  slight 
additions  and  alterations,  and  from  the  "Tract  of  the  Seasons," 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rudd,  who  kindly  encouraged  me  in  the  prose- 
cution of  the  work.  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hale  for  the 
following  letter,  which  forms  an  appropriate  introduction  to  the 
work,  and  which  he  has  kindly  allowed  me  to  use  for  that  purpose. 

Your  affectionate  son, 

CM.  B. 
Palmyra,  February,  1839. 


INTRODUCTORY    LETTER. 


Rev.  and  Dear  Sir,— 

I  have  examined  several  of  the  sheets  of  your  little  work, 
which  you  have  been  so  kind  as  to  send  me,  not  so  much  with 
the  eye  of  a  critic,  as  with  the  feelings  of  one  who  has  had  cause 
to  think  much  of  the  religious  education  of  the  young,  and  to 
whom  every  thing  that  tends  to  the  promotion  of  early  piety  is 
dear.  The  spirit  of  your  book  is  excellent,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
the  plan  of  it  will  find  acceptance  with  many  readers,  and  your 
songs  be  blest  to  the  nourishing  of  many  young  hearts  to  ever- 
lasting life. 

I  have  long  thought  that  sacred  poetry,  simple  in  sentiment, 
addressing  the  ear  in  a  sweet  harmony,  and  the  fancy  by  a 
graceful  management  of  the  figurative  language  of  holy  scrip- 
ture, affords  one  of  the  best  means  of  cherishing  the  sentiments 
of  piety  in  the  minds  of  the  young.  And  I  have  known  it  since 
I  have  had  occasion  to  see  some  of  the  beautiful  Hymns  of  our 
Prayer  Book,  which  had  been  treasured  in  the  memory  of  a 
child,  but  just  past  the  first  decade  of  her  years,  becoming  in  her 
last  sickness  an  abundant  source  of  joy  and  consolation,  and 
furnishing  her  with  the  means  of  expressing  her  feelings  to  her 
friends  and  her  devotions  to  her  Maker  and  Redeemer. 

It  is  far  from  being  a  matter  of  indifference  that  the  style  of 
poetrv  for  children  should   be  graceful.    Their  memories  are 
A* 


VI. 


clogged,  and  their  hearts  but  little  benefitted  by  much  that  is  set 
forth  for  their  use.  A  child  of  vivacious  intellect  has  a  quick 
feeling  of  the  graces  of  poetry,  when  the  sentiment  is  not  beyond 
its  reach,  and  rejoices  in  a  perfect  harmony.  The  religious 
instruction  of  children  by  the  fireside,  in  every  truly  Christian 
household,  makes  the  history  and  the  parables  and  the  general 
language  of  scripture,  early  familiar,  and  gives  great  advantage 
to  the  religious  poet  in  adapting  his  compositions  to  their  use. 
By  following  the  leading  of  some  passage  of  scripture  for  the  day, 
you  have  availed  yourself  of  this,  and  if  I  mistake  not,  in  many 
of  your  hymns,  with  much  success. 

To  my  apprehension,  it  is  not  of  small  moment  to  teach  the 
young  of  our  communion,  as  your  book  intends,  to  follow  with 
interest  the  revolution  of  our  ecclesiastical  year.  Let  limes  as 
well  as  places  be  adorned  with  hallowed  associations,  and  days, 
as  well  as  material  objects  and  localities,  teack  lessons  of  piety. 
The  order  of  our  church  in  this,  as  in  other  respects,  is  greatly 
helpful  to  Christian  education,  as  well  as  to  mature  piety  ;  and  if 
children  were  carefully  trained,  as  the  church  expects  from  pa- 
rents and  sponsors,  after  she  has  received  them  "  into  the  con- 
gregation of  Christ's  flock,"  and  according  to  the  means  and  the 
order  which  she  has  furnished,  systematically  and  constantly, 
mature  piety  would  be  much  more  abundant. 

Wishing  your  pious  labors  success  in  this  great  object, 
I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

BENJ.  HALE. 
Geneva,  February  1,  1839. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Morning page  13 

Evening 14 

First  Sunday  in  Advent.. Christ  in  the  Temple 16 

Second  Sunday  in  Advent.. The  Judgment 17 

Third  Sunday  in  Advent 19 

Fourth  Sunday  in  Advent.. The  voice  in  the  Wilderness 20 

St.  Andrew's  Day 21 

St.  Thomas'  Day 23 

Christmas  Day 25 

St.  Stephen's  Day 27 

St.  John  the  Evangelist's  Day 29 

The  Holy  Innocents 31 

Sunday  after  Christmas  Day 32 

The  Circumcision  of  Christ 33 

The  Epiphany 35 

First  Sunday  after  Epiphany.. Christ  among  the  Doctors...  .37 
Second  Sunday  after  Epiphany.. The  Heralds  of  tho  Cross. .39 
Third  Sunday  after  Epiphany.. The  Fountain  in  the  Desert. .40 
Fourth  Sunday  after  Epiphany 42 


VIII. 

Page. 

Fifth  Sunday  after  Epiphany.. Overcome  evil  with  good 43 

Sixth  Sunday  after  Epiphany.. Likeness  to  God 45 

Septuagesiina  Sunday.. The  Eleventh  Hour 47 

Sexagesima  Sunday . .  The  Gospel  Seed 48 

Quinquagesima  Sunday.. Charity 49 

Ash  Wednesday.. Collect  for  the  Day 51 

First  Sunday  in  Lent.. Death 53 

Second  Sunday  in  Lent.. The  Spirit's  Visitings 55 

Third  Sunday  in  Lent. .The  Death  of  the  Soul 57 

Fourth  Sunday  in  Lent . .  Sufferings  for  Jesus'  sake 60 

Fifth  Sunday  in  Lent 61 

Sunday  next  before  Easter 63 

Monday  before  Easter..  Is  it  I  ? 65 

Tuesday  before  Easter..  Arise  and  let  us  go  hence 66 

Wednesday  before  Easter.. Christ  in  the  Garden 68 

Thursday  before  Easter.. Crucify  him  ! 69 

Good  Friday. .It  is  finished 71 

Easter  Even 73 

Easter  Sunday 76 

Easter  Monday 78 

Easter  Tuesday.. The  New  Creature 80 

First  Sunday  after  Easter 81 

Second  Sunday  afier  Easter. .The  Penitent  Church 83 

Third  Sunday  after  Easter..  We  are  Si  rangers  and  Pilgrims..  85 

Fourth  Sunday  after  Easier 87 

Fifth  Sunday  after  Easter 88 

Ascension  Day 89 

Sunday  after  Ascension  Day.. Collect  for  the  Day 90 


IX 


Page. 
Whitsunday 91 

Monday  in  Whitsun  Week 93 

Tuesday  in  Whitsun- Week.. Pray  without  ceasing 94 

Trinity  Sunday 96 

First  Sunday  after  Trinity 100 

Second  Sunday  after  Trinity 101 

Third  Sunday  after  Trinity..  Be  clothed  with  Humility 102 

Fourth  Sunday  after  Trinity 103 

Fifth  Suaday  after  Trinity 104 

Sixth  Sunday  after  Trinity. .The  Soul's  Resurrection 105 

Seventh  Sunday  afier  Trinity . .  The  Bread  of  Life 106 

Eighth  Sunday  after  Trinity . .  Forward 107 

Ninth  Sunday  after  Trinity  ..Idols 108 

Tenth    Sunday  after  Trinity..  .The  Saviour  weeping  over 

Jerusalem 110 

Eleventh  Sunday  after  Trinity.. God  be  merciful  to  me..  ..Ill 

Twelfth  Sunday  after  Trinity 112 

Thirteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity..  Who  is  ray  neighbor  ?..  .114 

Fourteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity 115 

Fifteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity. .God  Providetb 116 

Sixteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity 117 

Seventeenth  Sunday  after  Trinity 118 

Eighteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity . .David's  Confession 119 

Nineteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity 121 

Twentieth  Sunday  after  Trinity..  The  Melody  of  the  Heart.  .122 

Twenty-First  Sunday  after  Trinity..  All  is  well 124 

Twenty-Second  Sunday  after  Trinity.. The  Fruits  of  Right- 
eousness in  the  Garden  of  the  Lord 125 


X. 

Page. 

Twenty-Third  Sunday  after  Trinity 127 

Twenty-Fourth  Sunday  after  Trinity . .  Rest 129 

Twenty-Fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity.. The  Lord  our  Right- 
eousness  130 

The  Conversion  of  St.  Paul 132 

The  Presentation  of  Christ  in  the  Temple 135 

St.  Matthias'  Day 136 

The  Annunciation 138 

St.  Mark's  Day 139 

St.  Philip  and  St.  James'  Day 142 

St.  Barnabas  the  Apostle's  Day 145 

St  John  Baptist's  Day 147 

St.  Peter's  Day 148 

St.  James'  Day 150 

St.  Bartholomew's  Day 152 

St.  Matthew's  Day 153 

St.  Michael  and  All  Angels 155 

St.  Luke's  Day 158 

St.  Simon  and  St.  Jude's  Day 159 

All  Saints'  Day 161 

The  Church  of  God 163 


YEAR    OF    THE    CHURCH. 


Well  to  celebrate  these  religious  and  sacred  days, 
is  to  spend  the  flower  of  our  time  happily  They  are 
the  splendour  and  outward  dignity  of  our  religion,  forci- 
ble witnesses  of  ancient  truth,  provocations  to  the 
exercises  of  all  piety,  shadows  of  our  endless  felicities 
in  heaven,  on  earth  everlasting  records  and  memorials 
wherein  they  which  cannot  be  drawn  to  hearken  to 
what  we  teach,  may  only  by  looking  into  that  we  do, 
in  a  manner  read  whatsoever  we  believe. 

Hooker's  Eccl.  Polity,  Lib,  5,  Sec.  71. 


MORNING. 

The  pearly  light  of  morning  breaks, 
And  nature  from  her  sleep  awakes ; 
The  birds  have  left  the  forests  dim 
And  raise  to  heaven  their  early  hymn  ; 
Man  to  his  labour  goeth  forth 
And,  happy  life  fills  all  the  earth ; — 
And  ere  I  tread  life's  dangerous  ways 
I'll  lift  to  heaven  my  prayer  and  praise. 

I  praise  thee,  God  !  that  thou  hast  given 
This  pleasant  earth,  yon  glorious  heaven  ; 
For  life,  for  health,  for  food,  for  friends, 
My  soul  to  thee  in  praise  ascends  : 
For  mind  to  think,  and  heart  to  feel, 
For  all  my  woe,  and  all  my  weal : 
But  my  chief  praise,  Oh  God,  I  give, 
That  thou,  through  Christ,  hast  bid  me  live. 

My  prayer  I  breathe  on  bended  knee, 
Before  thine  awful  Majesty : 
My  sins,  my  frailties,  I  confess, 
And  Christ  is  all  "my  righteousness :" 
Give  me  to  love  thee  more  and  more  ; 
Thy  slighted  grace  in  me  restore  ; 
And  by  my  life  let  proof  be  given 
My  "  conversation  is  in  heaven." 


14  EVENING. 

Let  me  not  grieve,  oh  Lord !  this  day. 
Thy  holy  spirit  quite  away  ; 
Oh,  keep  me,  though  my  heart  be  stung. 
From  angry  thought  and  bitter  tongue  ; 
The  sin  that  doth  me  most  beset, 
Oh,  let  it  not  the  mastery  get ; 
So  that  no  cherished  wilful  sin, 
May  creep  this  day  my  heart  within. 


EVENING. 

Tranquilly  doth  evening  come 
In  sober  guise,  but  not  in  gloom. 
She  makes  men  pause  in  life's  wild  chase. 
And  wear  a  chasten'd  reverent  face. 
E'en  children  check  their  frolic  play 
And  their  wild  glee  all  dies  away ; 
And  you  may  see  them  watch  eve's  star, 
As  if  their  thoughts  were  wandering  far. 

As  falls  on  earth  the  dew  of  even, 
So  on  man's  heart  the  grace  of  heaven. 
Solemn  and  tranquil  in  its  power, 
'T  is  like  that  bless'd  and  holy  hour  : 
It  dims  the  bright  world  to  our  view, 
And  clothes  it  in  a  soberer  hue  ; 
But  as  that  fades  upon  the  eye, 
More  glorious  glows  the  star-paved  sky. 


YEAR  OF  THE  CHURCH 


ADVENT. 

Advent  Sundays  are  the  four  Sundays  that  pre- 
cede the  great  festival  of  our  Saviour's  Nativity. 
It  is  the  season  appointed  hy  the  ohureh  to  prepare 
our  minds,  by  proper  meditations,  for  a  due  com- 
memoration of  Christ's  coming  in  the  flesh. 

The  first  Sunday  in  Advent  is  always  the  nearest 
Sunday  to  the  feast  of  St.  Andrew,  whether  before 
cr  after ;  and  this  festival  falls  on  the  30th  of  No- 
vember. 

The  subjects  presented  in  the  services  of  the 
church,  during  this  season,  relate  chiefly  to  the 
coming — as  the  word  Advent  implies  —  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour.    There  are  usually  noted  two  Advents  : 


16  FIRST   SUNDAY    IN   ADVENT. 

That  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  in 
human  flesh,  is  the  first :  His  second  Advent  is  that 
when  he  will  come  as  Judge  of  the  world. 


FIRST  SUNDAY  IN  ADVENT. 

CHRIST  IN  THE    TEMPLE. 
21st  chapter  of  St.  Matthew.    The  Gospel  for  the  day. 

When  Jesus,  at  the  close  of  day, 

His  course  towards  the  city  bent, 
The  crowd  spread  garments  in  his  way, 

And  all  the  air  with  shoutings  rent. 
And  when  he  reached  the  Temple-hill* 

The  children  caught  the  eager  shout, 
And  "  to  the  Son  of  David  "  still 

Their  glad  hosannas  echoed  out ! 

But  to  the  Temple  then  in  wrath, 

And  with  a  lashing  scourge  he  came  ; 
A  better  Temple  now  he  hath, 

Wherein  is  praised  his  holy  name. 
That  house  was  then  accursed  of  God, 

Because  so  long  defiled  by  sin ; 
And  soon  't  was  level'd  with  the  sod  — 

His  Temple  yet  he  dwelleth  in ! 

His  Church  that  better  Temple  is, 

Which  his  own  precious  blood  hath  bought ; 


SECOND   SUNDAY   IN   ADVENT.  17 

The  house  of  God,  the  gate  of  bliss, 

With  purer  light  and  "  glory  "*  fraught. 

There  crowds  come  up  for  praise  and  prayer ; 
And  there  all  bloody  offerings  cease ; 

The  Holy  Spirit  broodeth  there, 

And  there  he  gives  his  hallow'd  "peace." 

And  now  let  children  gather  here, 

And  with  their  glad  hosannahs  greet 
Their  victor  King,  their  Saviour  dear, 

And  cast  their  branches  at  his  feet. 
Though  sneering  men  their  zeal  decry, 

And  fain  would  drown  the  song  they  raise  : 
Yet  Jesus  loves  to  hear  that  cry, 

And  says  that  such  make  perfect  praise,  f 


SECOND  SUNDAY  IN  ADVENT. 

THE   JUDGMENT. 
And  then  shall  they  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  a  cloud, 
with  power  and  great  glory.—  [3f».  xxi:  28.]    Gospel  for  the  day. 

Hark  !  Do  you  hear  this  awful  truth  ? 

Do  you  not  tremble  as  you  hear  ? 
And  will  you  yet,  presumptuous  Youth! 

Listen  and  linger  without  fear  ? 

*The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  that  of 
the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  in  this  place  will  I  give 
peace,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.— [Haggai,  ii:  9.] 

tMat.xxi:  16. 

B* 


18  SECOND   SUNDAY   IN   ADVENT. 

Is  it  not  true ?     Hath  not  God  said? 

Oh,  then  to  Cueist  your  Saviour  llee, 
That  so  his  second  Advent  dread, 

Be  not  the  day  of  doom  to  thee  ! 

Once  did  he  come  in  humble  love, 
And  bleed  and  die  to  save  your  soul ; 

But  now,  in  Judgment  from  above, 

He  comes  in  clouds  that  round  him  roll. 

Look  up  !  look  up !  if  careless  yet, 
Then  look  to  tremble  and  despair ; 

For  soon  shall  be  the  Judgment  set, 

And  Christ  shall  meet  thee  sternly  there. 

But  oh,  if  thou  wilt  turn  and  pray, 
If  thou  wilt  all  thy  sins  confess, 

And  enter  on  the  narrow  way, 
And  strive  for  faith  and  holiness ; 

Then  upward  look  with  joy  and  hope. 

For  "  thy  redemption  draweth  nigh  ;" 
The  radiant  ranks  of  Angels  ope 

To  hail  and  welcome  thee  on  high ! 


THIRD   SUNDAY   IN    ADVENT.  19 


THIRD   SUNDAY  IN  ADVENT 

And  he  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  all  faces.— [Isaiah  xxv  : 
8.    First  Lesson  in  the  morning. 

I  care  not  how  young  or  how  merry  you  are, 
Or  whether  you  play  in  life's  pleasantest  places ; 

How  free  you  may  seem  from  all  trouble  and  care, 
I  know  there  've  been  tears  upon  all  of  your  faces. 

The  hot  tear  of  anger  that  burned  as  it  fell ; 

Disappointment's  first  tear,  which  of  all  is  most 
bitter ; 
And  pride's  suppressed  tear,  which  at  least  would 
out  swell, 
And  pity's  mild  tear,  with  its  soft  dewy  glitter. 

Now,  would  you  not  love  such  a  scene  of  pure  bliss, 
Where  joy  after  joy  through  the  heart  ever  chases, 

In  a  world  that  hath  nothing  of  sorrow  like  this, 
Where  God  wipes  the  tear-drops  away  from  all 
faces  ? 

Then  turn  unto  him  who  the  penitent  tear 
By  the  sweet  one  of  gratitude  kindly  replaces  ; 

And  who,  if  he  let  us  weep  sometimes  while  here, 
Will  keep  off  all  tears  from  all  heavenly  faces. 


20  FOURTH   SUNDAY   IN   ADVENT. 

FOURTH  SUNDAY  IN  ADVENT. 

THE  VOICE  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

He  said  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  make 
straight  the  way  of  the  Lord,  as  saith  the  prophet  Isaiah.— [St. 
John  i:  23.]    Gospel  for  the  day. 

When  eastern  monarchs  march  abroad 
Their  slaves  prepare  an  even  road ; 
And  in  the  desert  voices  ring, 
"Prepare  a  pathway  for  our  king." 

Then  busy  hands  the  way  prepare, 
And  smooth  and  straighten  it  with  caTe ; 
That  o'er  it  thus  the  king  may  ride, 
In  unobstructed  pomp  and  pride. 

A  glorious  King  our  Saviour  is  ;**•* 
King  of  the  realms  of  heavenly  bliss  ; 
And  he,  before  his  mortal  birth, 
His  herald  sent  upon  the  earth. 

The  Baptist  came  —  his  thrilling  word, 
"  Prepare  the  way,"  afar  was  heard ; 
And  to  the  ears  of  all  he  sent 
The  ceaseless  warning  cry,  "  Repent "  ! 

Behold  your  King  approaches  nigh, 
Descending  from  his  throne  on  high ! 


ST.   ANDREW'S   DAY.  21 


Within  your  hearts  prepare  his  path, 
Or  wait  the  blightings  of  his  wrath. 

Thrice  happy  they  whose  early  care 
It  is  that  pathway  to  prepare  ; 
Before  those  hills  are  hard  and  high, 
Or  dim  and  deep  those  valleys  lie  ; 


Before  deceit  and  sin  embraced, 

Their  dark  and  winding  ways  have  traced  ; 

And  while  the  heart  can  yet  relent, 

Oh !  heed  the  herald's  cry,  "  Repent "  ! 


ST.  ANDREW'S   DAY-Nov.30. 

St.  Andrew  was  born  at  Bethsaida,*  a  city  of 
Gallilee;  was  son  to  Jonah,  a  fisherman  of  that 
town,  and  was  brother  to  Simon  Peter. 

As  St.  Andrew  was  the  first  who  found  the  Mes- 
siah,! and  the  first  who  brought  others  to  him,  the 
church  commemorates  him  first  in  her  anniversary 
course  of  holy  days,  placing  his  festival  at  the  be- 
ginning of  Advent,  as  the  most  proper  to  bring  the 
news  of  our  Saviour's  coming. 

*  Jno.  i:  44.  t  Jno.  i:  38,  39,  &c 


22  st.  Andrew's  day. 

The  hearing  ear,  and  the  seeing  eye,  God  hath  made  even 
both  of  them .— [Prov.  xx:  12.]    First  Lesson. 

With  brightness  and  beauty  God  clothes  the  earth, 
And  fills  it  with  voices  of  joy  and  mirth  ; 
And  for  his  pleasure  doth  man  supply 
With  "  the  hearing  ear  and  seeing  eye." 

Bless'd  are  the  sights  for  the  "  seeing  eye," 
On  the  glad  green  earth,  in  the  glorious  sky ; 
And  the  daily  music  of  life,  how  dear, 
From  voices  of  love  to  the  hearing  ear  ! 

But  to  look  on  the  Saviour  is  better,  far, 
Than  to  look  on  earth,  or  sun,  or  star  ; 
Than  all  the  sounds  which  our  hearts  rejoice, 
'T  is  better  to  hear  and  obey  his  voice. 

Like  the  humble  Andrew,  may  we  leave  all, 
And  turn  us  at  once  to  the  Saviour's  call ; 
And  when  all  else  fades  as  our  eye  grows  dim, 
Brighter  and  nearer  we  shall  still  see  him. 


ST.  THOMAS.  23 

ST.   THOMAS  — Dec.  21. 

St.   Thomas,  whose  sur-name  was   DrpTMtrs, 

was  a  Jew,  and  probably  a  Galilean  ;  and  it  is  very 
likely  he  was  brought  up  a  fisherman.* 

St.  Thomas,  though  at  first  unbelieving,  was  at 
length  convinced  of  our  Lord's  Resurrection,  by  the 
greatest  possible  evidence  ;  and  this  evidence  the 
church  recommends  as  a  fit  preparative  to  our 
Lord's  nativity,  to  incline  us  to  believe  with  St. 
Thomas  —  that  the  Christ  whose  birth  we  are  to 
commemorate,  is  the  very  Christ  ;  or  in  the  words 
of  St.  Thomas,  our  Lord  and  our  God. 

Buy  the  truth.— [Prov.  xxiii:  23.]    First  Lesson  for  the  day. 

Oh  buy  the  truth !  more  precious  far 

Than  gold,  or  pearls,  or  gems  ; 
More  than  the  splendid  spoils  of  war, 

Or  burning  diadems. 
Buy  it  with  the  price  of  thought, 

Of  earnest  toil  and  care  ; 
Be  it  with  self-denial  bought, 

With  meekness  and  with  prayer. 

And  buy  it  in  thy  early  youth, 
While  yet  thy  heart  is  pure, 

*  Jno.  xxi:  2,  3, 


24  ST.  THOMAS. 

Ere  cherished  sin  hath  made  the  truth 

More  than  thou  canst  endure. 
Buy  it  ere  yet  long-cherished  vice 

Bears  o'er  thy  spirit  sway, 
And  makes  it  of  a  greater  price 

Than  thou  canst  ever  pay. 

What  is  truth  ?    And  dost  thou  ask 

As  careless  Pilate  did  ? 
To  reach  it  must  thy  spirit  task ; 

'T  is  to  the  heedless  hid  ! 
Wilt  thou  with  doubting  Thomas  turn 

Thy  cold  and  sceptic  eye, 
Where  radiant  truths  before  thee  burn, 

And  count  them  all  a  lie  ? 

The  truth  —  the  awful  truth— is  this, 

That  'neath  God's  curse  we  lie 
Condemn'd  to  bitter  agonies, 

To  wo  eternally  ! 
The  truth — the  blessed  truth  —  it  is 

That  Christ  averts  the  rod  ; 
And  they  shall  reap  felicities, 

Who  hail  him,  Lord  and  God  !* 

*  Then  said  he  to  Thomas,  reach  forth  thy  finger  and  behold 
ray  hands  ;  and  reach  forth  thy  hand  and  thrust  it  into  my  side, 
and  be  not  faithless,  but  believing.  And  Thomas  answered  him 
and  said,  My  Lord  and  my  God !— [Jno.  xx:  27,  28.] 


CHRISTMAS     DAY.  25 


CHRISTMAS    DAY. 

This  festival  has  been  observed  with  lively  inte- 
rest and  joy  by  the  great  body  of  the  Christian 
world  from  the  earliest  times  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  The  precise  day  upon  which  the  Saviour 
was  born  is  not  agreed  upon  by  the  learned  ;  nei- 
ther is  it  material  to  know.  It  is  enough  to  know 
that  Jesus  lived,  grew,  and  died  as  other  men. 
Those  who  saw  him  in  the  days  of  his  sojourn  upon 
earth,  beheld  him  as  the  glory  of  the  Father,  full 
of  grace  and  truth.  It  is  proper  that  a  day  should 
be  set  apart  for  celebrating  with  gratitude  and  devo- 
tion so  blessed  an  event  as  the  Saviour's  nativity. 

Connected  with  this  glorious  festival,  is  the  cus- 
tom of  decorating  our  churches  with  boughs  of 
evergreens.  This  practice  is  in  conformity  to  the 
customs  of  many  nations,  and  has  prevailed  for 
ages  in  the  Christian  Church,  as  an  appropriate 
emblem  of  that  everlasting  freshness  which  is  to 
accompany  the  immortal  joy  and  youth  of  Heaven. 

On  Bethlehem's  plain  deeply  hushed  is  the  night, 
And  the  stars  in  their  stillness  are  shining ; 

And  watching  their  flocks  by  the  dubious  light, 
The  shepherds  in  peace  are  reclining. 


26  CHRISTMAS     DAY. 

No  heave  of  the  earth,  no  flash  of  the  sky, 
Proclaim  it  an  hour  of  such  wonder  : 

No  tokens  are  seen  that  Messiah  is  nigh ; 
No  voices,  nor  lightning,  nor  thunder ! 

But  look !  on  the  Heaven  a  glory  appears  : 

Its  lustre  to  every  thing  lending ; 
And  o'er  them  they  see,  with  tremulous  fears, 

The  wings  of  an  angel  descending ! 

But  mild  was  his  look  as  the  light  of  his  wing, 
And  kind  were  the  words  by  him  spoken ; 

And  "  fear  not,"  he  said.  "  glad  tidings  I  bring, 
Confirmed  by  a  marvellous  token." 

"  Messiah,  your  Lord  and  your  Saviour,  is  born 
In  the  city  of  David  — go  greet  him  : 

Wrapp'd  in  his  swadling  clothes,  lowly  and  lorn ; 
A  babe  in  a  manger  you'll  meet  him !" 

Bright  was  the  light  that  then  flashed  o'er  the  sky 

As  thousands  of  angels  descended  ; 
And  sweet  was  the  anthem  that  rose  up  on  high, 

As  their  voices  in  melody  blended  ! 

That  anthem  shall  yet  through  the  universe  ring  ; 

'Twill  be  chanted  for  ever  in  Heaven  : 
1  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,"  they  sing, 

"  Peace  and  good  will  to  mortals  be  given  !  "  * 

*  St.  Luke  ii:  14. 


st.    Stephen's    day.  27 


ST.    STEPHENS'S    DAY. 

St.  Stephen,  who  was  a  Jew,  and  probably  one 
of  the  seventy  disciples,  is  discribed  in  Scripture 
as  a  man  "  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost." 

For  placing  the  festivals  of  St.  Stephen,  St. 
John,  and  the  Holy  Innocents  immediately  after 
Christmas,  the  following  reason  among  others  has 
been  assigned  :  that  St.  Stephen  was  the  first  who 
suffered  martyrdom  ;  St.  John  was  the  disciple 
whom  Jesus  loved ;  and  the  slaughter  of  the  Holy 
Innocents  was  the  first  considerable  consequence 
of  our  Saviour's  birth.  Thus  martyrdom,  love,  and 
innocence,  are  first  magnified  as  things  wherein 
Chikst  is  most  honored. 

When  holy  Stephen  raised  his  eye, 
And  looked  on  Heaven  steadfastly, 

It  brightened  to  his  view  ; 
He  saw  its  inner  glories  shine  — 
He  saw  his  Saviour's  form  divine, 

The  op'ning  vista  through  ! 

And  now,  himself  before  the  throne, 
Brightest  and  foremost  there  is  known 

Of  all  the  martyr's  train, 
Who  have,  for  Christ,  from  age  to  age, 


ST.     STEPHEN'S     DAY. 


Defied  the  foe's  most  cruel  rage, 
And  poured  their  blood  like  rain ! 

Before  his  death  the  Spirit's  grace 
Gave  angel  beauty  to  his  face, 

When  to  the  council  brought ;  * 
Before  his  martyrdom,  't  was  his 
To  gaze  on  Heaven's  felicities, 

With  faith  so  fervent  fraught ! 

Not  that  his  life  for  Christ  was  given, 
Was  he  led  crown'd  and  bless'd  to  Heaven. 

And  welcom'd  warmly  in  ;  — 
That  indeed  might  serve  to  get 
A  less,  though  radiant  coronet,f 

But  not  the  crown  to  win. 

It  is  because  the  Spirit's  dove 

Made  in  his  heart  its  home  of  love,  % 


*  Acts  vi:  15. 
t  "  They  say  who  know  the  life  divine, 
And  upward  gaze  with  eagle  eyrie, 
That  by  each  golden  crown  on  high, 
Rich  with  celestial  jewelry ; 
Which  for  our  Lord's  redeemed  is  set, 
There  hangs  a  radiant  coronet  — 
All  geram'd  with  pure  and  living  light : 
Prepared  for  virgin  souls,  and  them 
Who  seek  to  wear  a  martyr's  diadem." 

Keble's  Christian  Year,  p.  136. 

t  "  Stephen,  a  man  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 
Acts  vi:  5. 


ST.     JOHN    THE     EVANGELIST.  29 

He  has  a  bliss  so  large  ; 
Because,  like  Christ,  he  prayed  to  Heaven 
His  murderers'  guilt  might  be  forgiven, 

And  laid  not  to  their  charge.* 

Wilt  thou  to  us,  oh  gracious  Lord, 
Thy  Spirit's  blessed  power  afford, 

To  win  a  faith  like  his  ? 
A  faith  whose  ever  upward  eye 
Sees  Christ  beyond  the  open  sky, 

And  blesses  enemies  ! 


ST.    JOHN    THE     EVANGELIST. 

St.  John  was  a  Gallilean,  the  son  of  Zebedee 
and  Salome,  and  younger  brother  to  St.  James,  with 
whom  he  was  brought  up  in  the  trade  of  fishing, 
and  with  whom  he  was  called  to  be  a  disciple  and 
an  apostle  of  our  Saviour.  He  is  thought  to  have 
been  the  youngest  of  all  the  Apostles,  being  thirty 
years  old  when  he  was  called  to  that  dignity.  As 
he  died  about  an  hundred  years  old,  in  the  third 
year  of  Trajan,  he  must  have  lived  about  seventy 

*  "  And  he  kneeled  down  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice  :  Lord, 
lay  not  this  sin  to  their  charge  !  And  when  he  said  this  he  fell 
asleep.— [Acts  vii:  60.] 

C* 


30  ST.     JOHN     THE    EVANGELIST. 

years  after  our  Saviour's  sufferings  ;  and  conse- 
quently must  have  been  very  young  when  called  to 
the  Apostleship. 

"  The  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved." — [Jno.  xxi:  20.] 

'T  is  enough  to  know  of  thee, 

That  by  our  Lord  approved, 
Thy  name  shall  ever  honored  be 

As  one  whom  "Jesus  loved." 

We  know  that  thou  wert  pure  and  mild, 

By  gentle  feelings  moved  ; 
And  guileless  as  a  little  child, 

Because  by  "Jesus  loved." 

Thy  soul  yet  lives  upon  thy  page ;  * 
Thy  life  most  brightly  proved 

That  thou,  alike  in  youth  and  age  f 
Wert  one  whom  "Jesus  loved." 

*  Love  is  the  great  lesson  inculcated  in  the  Epistles  of  St.  John 
t  When  he  was  too  infirm  through  age  to  make  a  longer  dis- 
course, his  constant  exhortations  to  the  Christians  at  Ephesus, 
where  he  lived,  was.  "  Little  children  love  one  another." 


THE     HOLY     INNOCENTS.  31 


THE    HOLY    INNOCENTS. 

The  Third  day  after  Christmas  is  devoted  by  the 
Church  to  a  notice  of  those  little  ones  who  were 
slain  by  the  order  of  Herod  ;  who  feared  the  birth 
of  Christ  would  destroy  his  power. 

"Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken  by  Jeremy  the 
prophet,  saying  :  '  In  Rama  was  there  a  voice  heard,  lamentation 
and  great  weeping .-  Rachel  weeping  for  her  children  and  would 
not  be  comforted  because  they  are  not'."— [Mat.  ii:  17, 18.] 

In  Bethlehem  was  heard  a  cry  — 

Voices  of  wo  and  wailing  — 
Whose  mingled  dirge  rose  mournfully, 

With  sorrow  unavailing. 
'T  is  very  sad  to  bid  farewell 

To  fathers,  sisters,  brothers  ; 
But  the  deep  grief,  oh  !  who  may  tell, 

That  wrings  bereaved  mothers  ? 

Well  may  Bethlehem's  mothers  weep ; 

Well  may  their  hearts  be  breaking, 
For  now  their  dear  babes  sleep  the  sleep 

That  hath  on  earth  no  waking. 
No  more  shall  they  again  awake 

From  rosy  slumber,  smiling, 
And  into  gladsome  prattle  break  — 

The  hearts  of  all  beguiling. 


32  SUNDAY     AFTER     CHRISTMAS. 

To  take  the  stars  away  from  heaven, 

And  leave  it  all  in  sadness  — 
To  take  from  earth  the  bright  flowers  given 

To  lend  it  joy  and  gladness. 
To  take,  when  all  with  music  rife, 

The  birds  from  out  the  wildwood ; 
Oh  such  it  is  to  take  from  life 

Bright,  happy,  laughing  childhood ! 

But  they  are  now  bright  flowers  above  — 

To  Paradise  transplanted ; 
And  blooming  in  a  soil  of  love, 

Where  constant  sunshine  's  granted. 
Yes,  they  are  bless'd  and  radiant  now, 

In  green  and  tranquil  places  : 
Eternal  glory  on  their  brow  — 

Smiles  ever  on  their  faces. 


THE  SUNDAY  AFTER  CHRISTMAS  DAY. 

"  And  because  ye  are  sons,  God  both  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of 
his  Son  into  your  hearts,  saying  Abba,  Father." — [Gal.  iv:  6.] — 
Epistle  for  the  day. 

And  wilt  thou,  high  and  mighty  one, 
Call  me  thy  sinful  child,  a  son  ? 
And  may  we  thus  look  up  to  thee, 
Inhabiting  eternity, 


EPIPHANY.  33 

And  by  the  power  upholding  all, 
And  by  the  name  of  Father  call  ? 

Then  I'll  not  fear  !  my  Father's  eye 
Is  ever  wakeful  in  the  sky : 
Come  joy,  it  is  my  Father's  gift ; 
To  him  my  soul  in  praise  I'll  lift ; 
Come  wo,  it  is  his  warning  given, 
To  keep  me  in  the  path  to  Heaven ! 

Oh  then,  in  trial's  sternest  hour, 

'Neath  sorrow's,  darkest,  bitterest  power, 

When  left  by  all  the  world  beside, 

On  my  wrecked  bark  alone  I  ride  — 

I'll  lift  my  trusting  eye  above, 

And  know  my  Father  still   "  is  love !" 


THE    CIRCUMCISION— Jan.  1. 

The  next  festival  is  this,  in  which  the  Church 
commemorates  the  initiation  of  our  Lord  into  the 
Jewish  Church :  for  as  he  came  to  fulfil  the  whole 
law,  it  was  proper  for  him  to  obey  that  which  re- 
quired that  every  son  should  be  circumcised.  As 
the  Jewish  laws  were  to  be  done  away,  Jesus  esta- 
blished in  the  place  of  circumcision  that  ordinance 


34  THE     CIRCUMCISION. 

of  baptism  by  which  every  child  should  be  intro- 
duced into  covenant  relation  with  God.  As  cir- 
cumcision was  administered  eight  days  after  the 
birth  of  a  child,  so  this  festival  falls  eight  days 
after  Christmas,  which  is  New  Year's  day. 

"  Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will  not  impute  sin." 
[Romans  iv:  8.]    Epistle  for  the  day. 

When  o'er  the  past  I  cast  my  eye, 

How  bitter  is  the  memory! 

I  mourn  my  mispent,  precious  hours, 

My  lavished  strength,  my  wasted  powers ; 

I  mourn  the  foolishness  and  sin, 

That  made  their  home  my  heart  within  — 

Then  is  indeed  this  truth  confess'd, 

"  Whom  God  counts  sinless,  they  are  blest !" 

And  when  the  present  hour  I  mark, 

And  see  my  heart  so  cold  and  dark  — 

So  thankless  for  all  blessings  given, 

So  little  fixed  on  God  and  Heaven ; 

So  slowly  moving  on  its  way, 

Towards  the  bright  and  perfect  day  — 

Oh  then  on  this  dear  truth  I  rest, 

"  Whom  God  counts  sinless,  they  are  blest !" 

When  to  the  future,  too,  I  look, 
'Tis  not  to  me  a  sealed  book  — 


THE   CIRCUMCISION.  35 

I  know  'twill  be  a  scroll  of  sin, 
Darkly  written  without  and  in ; 
A  gloomy  list  of  sins  and  tears, 
Shall  darken  all  the  coming  years  ; 
Therefore  this  truth  I  seize  with  zest, 
"Whom  God  counts  sinless,  they  are  blest !" 

For  'mid  the  angel  ranks  above, 

Whose  breath  is  bliss,  whose  life  is  love, 

Shall  ransom'd  men  forever  be, 

And  share  their  full  felicity. 

How  do  they  shun  thy  realms  despair  ? 

How  came  they  'mid  the  sinless  there  ? 

Who  buys  for  them  their  heavenly  rest  ? 

11  Christ  bore  their  sins,  and  they  are  blest  f  " 


EPIPHANY  — January  6. 

THE  STAR  IN  THE  EAST. 

The  word  Epiphany  means  manifestation ;  and 
the  Church  on  this  day  celebrates  that  event  in  the 
life  of  our  Lord,  in  which  he  was  manifested  to 
the  Gentiles  through  the  persons  of  those  wise  men 
of  the  East,  who  came  by  the  guidance  of  a  mira- 
culous star  to  Bethlehem,  to  worship  the  infant 
Redeemer. 


36  EPIPHANY. 

"  In  the  days  of  Herod  the  king,  behold  there  came  wise  men 
from  the  east  to  Jerusalem,  saying,  where  is  he  who  was  born 
King  of  the  Jews  ?  for  we  have  seen  his  star  in  the  east  and  am 
come  to  worship  him."— [St.  Mat.  ii:  02. 

Behold  in  Heaven  yon  stranger  star ! 

Chaldea's  sages  know  it  not  — 
It  leads  the  wise  men  from  afar, 

Towards  a  rude,  but  hallowed  spot : 
A  spot  where  uttering  feeble  cries, 
The  Saviour  in  a  manger  lies. 

With  joy  exceeding  great  they  greet 
The  Mighty  One,  so  long  foretold, 

And  lay  rich  treasures  at  his  feet, 

Of  myrrh,  and  frankincense,  and  gold  ; 

And  there  that  weak,  unhonored  thing, 

They  hail  and  welcome  as  a  king. 

He  is  king  !  and  mightier  far 
Than  the  proud  monarchs  of  the  earth ! 

Well  might  one  bright  and  guiding  star 
Give  token  of  his  humble  birth, 

Who  all  the  stars  on  high  arrayed, 

And  all  the  worlds  from  nothing  made. 

O'er  distant  riches,  power  and  fame, 

A  brilliant  star  seems  hung  on  high ; 
And  towards  its  bright  alluring  flame, 


FIRST     SUNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY.  37 

Earth's  crowds  are  pressing  eagerly  — 
And  still  it  lures  them  on  and  on, 
But  never  stops  o'er  blessings  won  ! 

Oh  let  us  turn  from  them  away, 
And  like  the  wise  men  lowly  fall 

Before  our  Lord,  and  humbly  lay 
Our  offered  hearts,  our  lives,  our  all : 

Be  ours  the  star  that  guided  them, 

The  blessed  star  of  Bethlehem ! 


FIRST  SUNDAY  AFTER  EPIPHANY. 

CHRIST    IX    THE    TE3IPLE    A3I0NG    THE    DOCTORS. 

"And  it  came  to  pass  that  after  three  days  they  found  him  ii 
the  midst  of  the  Doctorsv  both  hearing  them  and  asking  then 
questions. — [St.  Luke  ii:  46.]     Gospel  for  the  day. 

Behold  him  there ! 
The  stripling  youth  amid  the  doctors  standing, 
With  modest  mien  that  hath  a  power  commanding. 

And  solemn  air  ! 

The  holy  law  — 
Its  hidden  meanings  and  its  types  unfolding  — 
He  reads  with  such  deep  skill,  that  all  beholding 

Are  struck  with  awe. 


38  FIRST    SUNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY. 

The  aged  men, 
The  hoary  wise  ones,  laden  with  all  learning, 
Rabbi  and  Scribe,  their  souls  at  his  words  burning, 

Felt  ignorant  then. 

Did  he  then  speak  [dying  • 

Of  Christ,  the  mocked,  the  stoned,  the  pierced,  the 
Spake  he  the  curse  on  the  doomed  city  lying, 

And  soon  to  break  ? 

No  words  are  given ! 
We  know  they  wondered  at  the  wisdom  spoken, 
As  if  an  angel  in  their  midst  had  broken, 
And  talked  of  Heaven. 

Oh  what  a  sight !  [flowing  ; 

While  gracious  words  from  his  young  lips  were 
His  face  like  Moses  on  the  mount  was  glowing 

With  love  and  light. 

So  we  shall  hear, 
When  in  the  house  not  made  with  hands  eternal, 
His  blessed  words,  with  power  and  grace  supernal 

Charming  the  ear. 

Then  will  he  show 
The  secret  meanings  of  his  doings  hidden  ; 
Then  shall  the  mists  from  off  his  words  be  bidden, 

And  we  shall  know! 


SECOND     SUNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY.  39 

SECOND   SUNDAY  AFTER   EPIPHANY. 

THE    HERALDS    OF    GOOD    TIDINGS. 

"  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  Him  that 
bringeth  good  tidings,  that  published)  peace,  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation."— [Is.  lii:  7.]  First 
Evening  Lesson. 

Tin:  heralds  of  the  word, 

With  tidings  of  salvation, 
Proclaiming  Christ  their  Lord, 

From  nation  unto  nation  ; 
Oh  beautiful  their  feet 

Upon  the  dreary  mountains  ; 
Their  words  of  peace,  oh  sweet 

As  desert. glad'ning  fountains  ! 

"  Here  's  freedom  for  the  slave  ; 

Here  's  light  for  the  benighted  ; 
Here  's  power  and  will  to  save, 

Though  God  has  long  been  slighted  : 
Here  's  balm  for  wounded  hearts, 

Cure  for  the  soul's  diseases ; 
A  grace  which  health  imparts, 

And  direst  anguish  eases  !" 


In  hours  of  bright  success 

They  teach  us  to  be  humble, 
And  kindlv  cheer  and  bless 


40        THIRD    SUNDAY     AFTER    EPIPHANY 

The  feeble  ones  who  stumble. 
They  're  ministers  of  peace 

By  beds  of  wo  and  wailing, 
And  bid  all  terrors  cease, 

When  nature  fast  is  failing. 

Oh !  in  thy  day  of  youth, 

While  yet  thy  heart  is  tender, 
Heed  well  these  words  of  truth, 

To  Christ  thy  soul  surrender  ! 
They  're  words  of  deepest  love 

Which  God  himself  has  given  : 
They  point  the  path  above, 

They  ope  the  gate  of  Heaven ! 


THIRD    SUNDAY    AFTER    EPIPHANY. 

THE    FOUNTAIN   IN    THE    DESERT. 

"Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters ;  and  he 
that  hath  no  money,  come  yo,  buy  and  eat;  come  buy  wine  and 
milk,  without  money  and  without  price." — [Is.  lv :  1.]  Last 
Evening  Lesson. 

Wanderer  o'er  life's  weary  way, 
Fainting  'neath  the  burning  day, 
Worn  and  thirsty  in  the  waste, 
To  the  gushing  waters  haste  : 


THIRD     SDNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY.  41 

In  your  hand  no  money  bring  — 
Hasten  to  the  living  spring, 
And  o'er  its  fresh  and  mossy  brink, 
Stoop  thee  down  and  freely  drink. 

Pleasant  to  the  burning  lip, 
Lingering  there  to  slowly  sip  : 
Pleasant  is  the  limpid  flow, 
With  a  sweet  voice  murmuring  low  : 
Pleasant,  too,  the  dewy  moss, 
That  doth  all  its  brim  emboss  — 
E'en  its  pebbles  you  will  hold 
Dearer  than  the  finest  gold  ! 

Trees,  that  wave  in  beauty  green ; 
Gra.ss,  that  grows  with  freshest  sheen  ; 
Flowers,  with  rich  and  varied  dyes, 
Scarcely  dim  from  Paradise  ! 
Songs  that  reach  the  charmed  ear, 
Echoes  from  a  higher  sphere  — 
While  you  there  do  gladly  sit. 
What  a  heaven  they  make  of  it ! 

In  life's  dry  and  barren  waste, 
Such  a  flowing  fount  is  plac'd  ; 
To  the  faint  and  thirsting  heart, 
Such  a  draught  it  will  impart :  — 


42  FOURTH     SUNDAY     AFTER    EPIPHANY 

God's  own  word  that  fountain  is, 
Source  of  all  felicities. 
Fly  to  where  those  waters  burst !  — 
Tiiev  who  drink  shall  never  thirst. 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  EPIPHANY. 

"A  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  Heavens.'' — [2d 
Corin.  v  :  1.]      Second  Evening  Lesson. 

The  earth  is  full  of  lovely  things  — 

Visions  and  shapes  of  light  — 
Graspless,  but  dear,  and  borne  on  wings. 

How  fleet  and  bright ! 

Love,  as  it  is  not  born  of  earth. 

Not  long  may  bide  its  breath, 
And  as  we  gladden  o'er  its  birth, 

Behold  its  death  ! 

And  friendship, — as  Narcissus  strove 

His  mirror'd  form  to  clasp, 
Young  hearts  their  own  reflected  love. 

In  vain  would  grasp. 

Hope  is  the  rainbow  child  of  tears, 
•  Born  in  life's  stormiest  sky; 


FIFTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     E  F  I  P  II  A  N  V  .  43 

Bright,  beautiful,  and  brief,  it  rears 
Its  arch  on  high. 

And  pleasure's  roseate  breath  of  bloom, 

Swells  to  a  storm  at  last  : 
A  whirlwind  winged  with  wrath  and  gloom, 

A  Siroc  blast ! 

All  change  and  pass — grow  dim  and  die  : 
Earth  hath  no  sure  thing  given  — 

Its  joys  a  dream,  its  hopes  a  lie  !  — 
There  is  a  heaven  ! 


FIFTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    EPIPHANY. 

OVERCOME    EVIL    WITH    GOOD. 

"  Forgiving  one  another,  if  any  man  have  a  quarrel  against  any 
even  as  Christ  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye.— [Col.  iii  :  13. 
Epistle  for  the  day. 

Brother,  when  thy  soul  is  stirr'd 
By  a  vile  and  slanderous  word  ; 
When  thy  heart  is  keenly  stung, 
And  with  cruel  wrong  is  wrung ; 
When  by  foes  thy  goods  are  scatter' dr 
And  thyself  a  wreck,  art  shatter'd, 


44  FIFTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY 

And  thy  bitter  heart  would  cry, 
"  Curse  thy  fellow  man  and  die," 

Be  this  precept  understood, 
"  Evil  overcome  with  good." 

Brother,  look  within  thy  heart ; 
See  the  sinful  thing  thou  art ; 
Hast  thou  wronged  another  never  ? 
Has  thy  heart  been  loving  ever  ? 
Hast  thou  rendered  justice  even? 
Needs't  thou  not  to  be  forgiven  ? 
Oh !  as  God  forgiveth  thee, 
Laden  with  iniquity, 
Show  to  him  thy  gratitude  — 
"  Evil  overcome  with  good." 

Brother,  thou  shalt  victory  win 
Over  more  than  thine  own  sin  ; 
Thou  shalt  overcome  thy  foe, 
Better  than  by  hostile  blow. 
And  shalt  make  him  to  confess 
There  's  majesty  in  holiness  : 
Wouldst  thou  gain  a  glorious  crown  1 
Keep  thy  vengeful  passions  down  ; 
Seekest  thou  heaven's  beatitude  ? 
"  Evil  overcome  with  good  !" 


SIXTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     EPIPHANY.  45 


SIXTH    SUNDAY   AFTER    EPIPHANY. 

"But  we  know  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him  ; 
for  we  shall  see  hira  as  he  is." — [1st  Jno.  iii  :  2.]  Epistle  fo? 
the  day. 

Be  "  like"  to  God  who  sits  on  high 

And  filleth  up  immensity  ? 

See  "as  he  is"  that  lofty  one 

Who  makes  the  universe  his  throne, 

Before  whom  angel  faces  bow, 

Veiled  from  his  glory's  dazzling  glow  ? 

E'en  as  the  light's  minutest  ray 

Is  like  the  glorious  God  of  day ; 

As  the  stray  drops  of  ocean  foam 

Are  like  the  sea  from  which  they  come  ; 

Such  likeness  may  be  given  us, 

To  God,  the  great,  the  glorious  ! 

Waves  sleeping  neath  the  glow  of  even, 
Catch  splendour  from  the  radiant  heaven  ; 
And  our  souls  basking  in  the  light 
That  floweth  from  the  Infinite, 
May  something  of  its  power  express 
All  beautiful  in  holiness  ! 

Most  glorious  thought !  like  him  to  be 
In  love  and  in  felicity  ; 


46  THREE     SUNDAYS     BEFORE     LENT. 

To  see  him,  as  indeed  he  is, 
Supreme  in  holiness  and  bliss  : 
Oh  !  may  it  unto  us  impart 
Deep  yearnings  for  a  purer  heart  ! 


THREE    SUNDAYS   BEFORE   LENT. 

As  the  first  Sunday  in  Lent  is  called  Quadragesi- 
ma, being  the  fortieth  day  before  Easter,  the  three 
preceding  Sundays  were  denominated  from  the  next 
round  numbers,  Quinquagesima,  fiftieth  ;  Sexagesi- 
ma,  sixtieth ;  and  Septuagesi?na,  seventieth  day 
before  Easter. 

The  design  of  the  church  is  now  to  call  off  the 
attention  of  its  members  from  the  more  animating 
and  joyous  employments  of  the  recent  festivals,  to 
a  becoming  preparation  for  the  better  and  more 
spiritual  improvement  of  the  humiliating  duties  of 
self-examination  and  penitence  and  prayer,  for  the 
approaching  annual  fast. 


S  E  P  T  U  A  G  E  3  I  M  A      SUNDAY.  4t 

SEPTUAGESIMA    SUNDAY. 

THE    ELEVENTH    HOUR. 

[Mat.  xx.]     Gospel  for  the  day. 

"  Idlers  through  life's  sunny  day, 
Spring  to  labor  while  ye  may  : 
See  how  long  the  shadows  fall  — 
Hasten  at  this  latest  call !  " 

"  Yet  a  moment  in  our  home, 
Then,  oh  Master,  we  will  come  ! 
Yet  at  least  one  parting  word, 
Then  we  '11  join  thee,  gracious  Lord." 

"  Idly  all  the  da}'  ye  've  pass'd ; 
Heed  the  call —  it  is  the  last ! 
Ere  the  gates  be  closed  forever  : 
Come  ye  now,  or  come  ye  never  ! " 

"  Well  we  knew  thou  hadst  a  field, 
And  we  meant  our  toil  to  yield, 
Hoping  thou  wouldst  come  at  last, 
And  take  us  ere  the  day  were  past." 

"  But  I  sent  to  call  ye  then, 
Apostles,  Prophets,  holy  men  ; 
See  how  long  the  shadows  lie  — 
Speed  ye  to  the  gate  —  or  die !  " 


48  SEXAGESIMA     SUNDAY. 

'T  is  not  alone  to  weary  age, 
Ending  at  length  its  pilgrimage, 
That  Christ  our  Lord  doth  sternly  say, 
"  Why  are  ye  idle  all  the  day  1 " 
To  blooming  youth  and  manhood  strong, 
The  solemn  words  alike  belong  : 
Your  day  may  be  —  God  only  knows  — 
Waning  towards  its  speedy  close  ; 
And  every  call  in  coldness  pass'd  — 
Most  awful  thought  —  may  be  your  last ! 


SEXAGESIMA    SUNDAY. 

"  The  seed  is  the  word  of  God."— [St.  Luke  viii:  11.]     Gospel 
for  the  day. 

Lord,  in  the  early  spring  of  youth, 
Plant  in  our  hearts  the  seed  of  truth  ; 
To  the  cold  barren  soil  be  given 
The  blessed  suns  and  clews  of  heaven. 


Preserve  it,  Lord,  from  trampling  feet 
Preserve  it  from  the  withering  heat ; 
Let  not  the  plundering  birds  destroy, 
Nor  choking  thorns  its  growth  annoy. 

Religion  is  a  tender  plant, 
Of  earth  no  native  habitant ; 


UUINQUAGESIMA    SUNDAY.  49 

So  pale  and  delicate  and  fair, 

It  needs  the  kindliest,  gentlest  care. 

Oh !  keep  it  from  the  wintry  blast ; 
Guard  it  till  the  heat  be  pass'd  ; 
Keep  it  from  the  crushing  storm, 
From  deadly  blight  and  eating  worm. 

Then  shall  it  grow  in  heaven  above, 
By  living  streams  'mid  airs  of  love  ; 
Nor  blight  nor  worm  nor  heat  nor  storm, 
Destroy  its  fresh  immortal  form. 


aUINaUAGESIMA     SUNDAY. 

CHARITY. 

"And  now  abideth  faith,  hope  and  charity  :  these  three,  and 
the  greatest  of  these  is  charity." — [I.  Corin.  xiii:  13.]  Epistle 
for  the  day. 

Sweetest  of  the  sisters  three, 
Heaven-descended  charity ! 
Upon  the  dove's  soft  pinion  come, 
And  make  our  hearts  thy  hallow'd  home  ! 

Bright  faith  can  fix  the  drooping  eye 

Upon  the  heavens  fervently  ; 

A  blessed  angel  at  our  side, 

She  can  our  faltering  footsteps  guide. 


50  Q.U1NQUAGESIMA    SUNDAY. 

And  gladsome  hope  with  sunny  smile 
May  our  dark  pilgrimage  beguile ; 
Make  us  forget  our  bleeding  feet, 
And  deserts  clothe  with  blossoms  sweet. 

Bright  visitants  of  angel  birth, 
They  are  the  gladdeners  of  the  earth  ; 
But  when  they  reach  the  heavenly  shore, 
They  sigh  farewell  —  their  task  is  o'er. 

For  faith  and  hope  are  lost  in  sight, 
And  in  fruition's  full  delight  ; 
As  stars  that  shine  with  midnight  ray 
Fade  in  the  brilliant  blaze  of  day. 

But  love  — oh  love  —  will  enter  there.. 
And  breathe  her  own,  her  native  air ; 
'T  is  this  that  is  designed  to  be, 
Our  bosom's  bliss  eternally. 

There  God  himself  is  only  blest, 
Because  love  fills  his  holy  breast ; 
The  angel  hosts  that  round  him  move, 
Are  only  blest  because  they  love. 

Sweetest  of  the  sisters  three  — 
Heaven-descended  charity ; 
Upon  the  dove's  soft  pinions  come, 
And  make  our  hearts  thy  hallow'd  home ! 


ASH     WEDNESDAY.  51 


ASH    WEDNESDAY. 

Ask  Wednesday,  the  first  day  of  Lent,  takes  its 
nam',  from  the  practice  of  the  early  Christians  who 
put  on  sackcloth  and  other  coarse  raiment,  and  put 
allies  on  their  heads,  in  token  of  their  humiliation 
and  sorrow  for  sin.  The  word  Lent,  in  the  Saxon 
language,  means  Spring  ;  and  hence  was  applied  to 
the  annual  fast  observed  at  tl]is  season  of  the  year. 

From  the  earliest  ages  of  Christianity  it  was. 
customary  for  Christians  to  set  apart  some  time  for 
mortification  and  self-denial,  to  prepare  for  the 
solemn  feast  of  Easter.  The  fast  of  Lent  continues 
forty  days,  because  the  number,  forty,  was  anciently 
appropriated  for  seasons  of  repentance  and  humili- 
ation. This  is  the  number  of  days  during  which 
God  covered  the  earth  with  the  deluge  ;  the  number 
of  years  in  which  the  children  of  Israel  did  penance 
in  the  wilderness  ;  the  number  of  days  Moses  fasted 
in  the  mount,  and  Elijah  in  the  wilderness ;  the 
Xinevites  had  this  number  of  days  allowed  for  their 
repentance ;  and  our  Lord,  when  he  was  pleased 
to  fast  in  the  wilderness,  observed  the  same  length 
of  time. 

Laying  before  its  members  the  death  and  sacri- 
fice of  Cheist  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  in  a  series 


52  ASH     WEDNESDAY. 

of  services  unequalled  in  impressive  solemnity  and 
pathos,  the  church  provides  in  the  fast  of  Lent,  a 
solemn  season  for  regularly  calling,  with  more 
particular  and  direct  application,  upon  all  men  to 
repent ;  and  thus  avoids  the  dangers  of  an  unregu- 
lated and  capricious  excitement. 


COLLECT    FOR    ASH   WEDNESDAY 

God  of  mercy  and  of  might, 
Pitying  all  within  thy  sight, 
Hating  nothing  that  hath  breath, 
Willing  not  the  sinner's  death  ; 
But  that  he  should  turn  and  live  — 
Oh,  do  thou  our  sins  forgive ; 
Comfort  us  on  whose  souls  lie 
Burdens  of  iniquity  ! 

To  forgive  is  all  thine  own  ; 
Mercy  's  with  thee  ever  known ; 
Gracious  Lord,  oh  then  forbear, 
Thy  redeemed  people  spare  ! 
Oh,  with  us,  who  are  from  birth, 
Wretched  sinners  and  vile  earth, 
Meriting  an  awful  lot, 
Into  judgment  enter  not ! 


FIRST     SUNDAY     IN     LENT.  53 

Turn  from  us,  who  now  confess 
Meekly  all  our  sinfulness, 
And  our  grievous  faults  repent, 
Turn  thine  angry  punishment ! 
Haste,  oh  Lord,  thy  help  to  give, 
While  on  earth,  that  we  may  live 
In  the  world  to  come,  with  thee, 
Through  our  Lord,  eternally. 


FIRST    SUNDAY   IN   LENT. 

DEATH. 

••  For  death  is  come  up  into  our  windows,  and  is  entered  into 
our  palaces  to  cut  off  the  children  from  without,  and  the  young 
men  from  the  streets." — [Jer.  ix:  31.]    First  Evening  Lesson. 

Grim  death  finds  every  spot  of  earth, 

And  enters  every  home  of  love, 
And  follows  darkly  after  birth, 

As  shadows  with  the  substance  move. 
He  shatters  down  strong  bars  and  walls, 

And  through  the  windows  creeps  within  ; 
And  stalking  through  the  palace  halls, 

Proclaims,  "  My  reign  is  wide  as  sin  !  " 

He  lurks  beneath  the  blooming  flower  ; 
He  glides  upon  the  sun's  glad  ray  ; 


54  FIRST    SUNDAY    IN     LENT. 

He  's  busy  every  passing  hour ; 

He  sleepeth  not  by  night  or  day. 
We  dance  upon  his  hollow  tombs, 

And  with  gay  garlands  deck  our  head, 
Which  borrow  all  their  richest  blooms, 

From  the  fat  mould  where  sleep  the  dead ! 

And  laughing  children  shriek  and  start 

To  see  him  in  their  rosy  path, 
Poising  aloft  his  cruel  dart, 

And  awful  in  his  grisly  wrath. 
Youth  madly  cries,  "  Not  now  !  not  now ! " 

As  stealthy  death  doth  toward  him  steal. 
And  breathes  the  fresh  bloom  off  his  brow, 

And  checks  his  laughter's  loudest  peal ! 

And  let  him  in  our  windows  creep  ; 

And  let  him  in  the  palace  come  ; 
Let  him  the  unripe  harvest  reap, 

Cutting  down  youth  in  all  its  bloom. 
What  can  he  do  1     He  can  but  break 

The  feeble  prison-house  of  clay  ; 
The  soul  from  its  dark  slumbers  wake, 

And  plume  its  flight  for  endless  day  ! 

Then  fear  him  not !  — but  rather  fear 

That  second  death  of  darker  woe, 
Whose  fatal  seeds  are  planted  here, 


SECOND    SUNDAY    IN    LENT.  55 

Which  doth  no  resurrection  know  ! 
That  awful  death  was  known  and  wept 

By  angel-mourners  in  the  skies;  — 
A  festival  by  fiends  't  is  kept ;  — 

The  judgment  forms  its  obsequies  ! 

Nor  yet  fear  it  —  for  Christ  hath  led 

Captive  captivity  on  high, 
And  dragged  resistless  death,  now  dead, 

Chained  to  his  chariot,  thro'  the  sky. 
Fear  him  who  hath  the  power  to  kill 

Body  and  soul  alike  in  hell ; 
But  —  blessed  be  God  !  —  the  heart  can  fill 

With  life  and  bliss  in  heaven  as  well ! 


SECOND  SUNDAY  IN  LENT. 

THE  SPIRIT'S  VISITINGS. 

In  that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit,  and  said,  "  I  thank  thee, 
oh  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these 
things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  revealed  them  unto 
babes :  Even  so,  Father  ;  for  so  it  seemed  goodin  thysight."— 
[St.  Luke,  x:  21.]     Second  Lesson  for  Morning. 

The  gentle  dew  that  stealeth  down, 

Abides  not  on  the  lofty  tree  ; 
He  shakes  it  from  his  lordly  crown, 

Tossing  his  head  most  haughtily. 


56  SECOND    SUNDAY    IN    LENT. 

His  roots  are  deeply  fixed  in  earth ; 

His  branches  shoot  out  high  and  wide ; 
His  green  leaves  quiver  in  their  mirth  ;  — 

He  's  stately  in  his  pomp  and  pride. 

The  gentle  dew  that  stealeth  down 

Finds  out  an  humbler  home  than  this ; 
Where  falls  the  forest  shadows  brown, 

And  in  the  common  field  it  is ; 
It  settles  on  the  lowly  grass, 

It  nestles  in  the  wild  flower's  cup, 
And  greets  us  as  we  onward  pass, 

Beaming  in  smiling  beauty  up  ! 

And  so  the  gentle  spirit's  grace 

Is  shaken  from  the  haughty  mind ; 
It  cannot  hold  a  biding  place, 

'Neath  passion's  wild  and  wayward  wind. 
Rooted  in  earth,  that  mind  relies 

On  earth  alone  for  power  and  life  ; 
And  lifts  its  bold  front  to  the  skies, 

And  dares  the  tempest's  sternest  strife. 

But  when  the  gentle  spirit's  grace 
Falleth  on  lowly  contrite  hearts, 

It  findeth  there  a  resting  place, 

And  there  its  fresh'ning  power  imparts. 

On  humble  souls  bowed  down  with  wo, 


THIRD    SUNDAY     IN    LENT.  57 

For  sin  so  frequent,  dark  and  dread, 
Because  they  made  Christ  suffer  so, 
Freely  its  blessed  dews  are  shed. 

Even  so,  Father!    In  thy  sight 

Which  never  errs,  it  seemeth  good, 
That  men  of  wisdom  and  of  might 

Should  lose  high  heaven's  beatitude. 
Even  so,  Father  !  for  above, 

From  lowest  angels  up  to  thee, 
There  dwells  in  every  heart,  with  love. 

Her  sister,  sweet  humility. 


THIRD    SUNDAY   IN   LENT. 

THE  DEATH  OF  THE  SOUL. 

"  Awake  thou  that  sleepest  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and 
Christ  shall  give  thee  light.—  [Eph.  v:  14.]  Epistle  for  the 
day. 

You  've  gazed  upon  a  fair  young  form 
Stretched  on  the  couch  of  death, 

Senseless  and  still,  and  almost  warm 
With  recent  life  and  breath. 

Still  lingers  beauty  on  her  face, 

As  loth  to  leave  its  dwelling  place ; 

And  still  the  drooping  shroud  attests 


58  THIRD    SUNDAY   IN   LENT. 

The  lovely  shape  that  'neath  it  rests  ; 
But  her  glazed  eye's  unmeaning  stare, 
Proclaim  that  "  soul  is  wanting  there !  " 

So  may  our  fallen  nature  seem 

Most  beautiful  though  dead ; 

And  with  a  pallid  lustre  beam, 

Though  all  its  life  be  fled. 
And  as  of  old  the  dead  were  crown'd, 
And  with  bright  rosy  wreaths  were  bound 
So  may  we,  in  spirit  dead, 
With  fading  flowers  be  garlanded ; 
But  we  must  wither  fast  as  they, 
And  yield  us  to  corruption's  sway. 

Yes,  guilt  hath  slain  us  ;  we  "  are  dead 

In  trespasses  and  sins  ;" 
Corruption  through  our  spirits  spread, 

Its  gradual  progress  wins. 
Dead  to  the  pleading  voice  of  love  ; 
Dead  to  the  joys  of  heaven  above  ; 
Dead  to  God's  threat'nings  dark  and  fell ; 
Dead  to  the  agonies  of  hell ; 
Dead  to  conscience,  dead  1o  death ; 
To  calls  above  —  around  —  beneath  ! 

"  Awake  ye  sleepers  !  from  the  dead, 
And  Christ  shall  give  ye  light :" 


THIRD    SUNDAY     IN     LENT.  59 

So  hath  that  awful  being  said, 

Whose  word  is  winged  with  might. 
No  matter  though  your  spirit  sleep 
In  dreamless  slumber  dark  and  deep  ; 
No  matter  though  you  cannot  spring 
To  life,  with  self-awakening  ; 
Tis  Christ  who  calls,  whose  voice  brought  forth 
The  buried  Lazarus  from  the  earth. 

Ye  careless  sleepers  heed  the  call ! 

Awake  !  arouse  !  arise  ! 
The  thrilling  summons  comes  to  all, 

And  comes  from  out  the  skies. 
Christ  who  came  your  souls  to  save, 
Sheds  a  mild  brilliance  in  the  grave  ; 
He  bursts  the  fetters  of  the  tomb  ; 
He  dissipates  its  fearful  gloom  ; 
And  sends  his  spirit's  vital  breath, 
To  warm  the  cold  wan  shapes  of  death  ! 


60         FOURTH  SUNDAY  IN  LENT. 

FOURTH  SUNDAY  IN  LENT. 

SUFFERINGS  FOR  JESUS'  SAKE. 

"  For  unto  you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to 
believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  sake." — [Phil,  i:  29.] 
Second  Evening  Lesson. 

The  blessed  Jesus  walked  the  earth, 

A  sainted  sufferer  from  his  birth. 

Cold  on  his  infant  manger  bed, 

The  weeping  dews  of  night  were  shed ; 

And  when  dawned  childhood's  brighter  day, 

His  was  a  rough  and  narrow  way. 

But  oh  !  with  manhood's  sterner  strength, 

Came  wo's  full  bitterness  at  length, 

Reviled,  rejected,  crucified, 

He  bowed  his  bleeding  head  and  died! 

To  God's  elect  high  gifts  are  given. 
What  are  they  ? — Antepasts  of  heaven  ? 
Oh  !  they  are  gifts  we  're  slow  to  take  ;  — 
Sufferings  for  his  blessed  sake  ! 
Oh !  they  are  gifts  of  greater  worth 
Than  all  the  joy  or  wealth  of  earth. 
God  knows  that  every  worldly  gift 
Man's  haughty  heart  in  pride  will  lift ; 
God  knows  that  he  the  rock  must  smite. 
Before  life's  waters  leap  to  light ! 


FIFTH     SUNDAY     IN     LENT.  61 

Then  will  we  welcome  here  below 

And  joy  in  our  rewarding  wo  ; 

Then  shall  our  bitterest  tears  be  shed, 

That  for  our  sins  Christ  died  and  bled  ; 

Nor  care,  though  all  our  joys  grow  dim, 

So  that  our  sufferings  be  for  Hi>i. 

The  storms  that  beat  upon  the  heart, 

A  fresher  power  of  life  impart ; 

The  soul  ploughed  deepest  with  distress 

Bears  richest  fruits  of  holiness  ! 


FIFTH   SUNDAY   IN   LENT. 

"  In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls." — [St.  Luke  xxi:  19. | 
Second  Morning  Lesson. 

Though  your  life's  unclouded  lot 
May  seem  a  green  and  sunny  spot ; 
Though  shut  from  out  your  calm  domain;, 
Are  all  the  snarling  fiends  of  pain : 
And  though  the  bright  sprites,  joy  and  mirth, 
May  gambol  round  your  happy  hearth  ; 
Yet  is  there  cause  for  you  to  mourn, 
And  sometimes  from  these  blessings  turn, 
And  strive  beneath  your  sore  distress, 
To  patiently  your  souls  possess. 


62  FIFTH    SUNDAY    IN     LENT. 

Though  you  mourn  not  in  anguish  wild, 
The  loss  of  fortune,  friends  or  child, 
Enough  for  grief  your  heart  within, 
While  nestles  there  disturbing  sin. 
The  only  real  grief  below, 
'T  is  this  that  caused  your  Saviour's  woe  ; 
The  lingering  cancer  of  the  heart, 
It  always  will  some  pain  impart  ; 
Yet  we,  still  bent  to  make  it  less, 
Must  patiently  our  souls  possess. 

Yes,  patience !  patience  !  it  is  good, 

And  brings  us  to  a  contrite  mood, 

To  feel  we  ne'er  can  make  depart 

The  plagues  of  sin  which  fill  the  heart. 

And  as  it  is  God's  blessed  will, 

Content  to  be  but  sinners  still, 

Let  us  yet  strive  by  prayer  and  love, 

Its  heaviest  curses  to  remove, 

Till  God  with  sinless  hearts  shall  bless  ; — - 

And  patient  thus  our  souls  possess  ! 


SUNDAY  NEXT  BEFORE  EASTER.       63 

SUNDAY  NEXT  BEFORE  EASTER. 

"The  master  saith  ray  time  is  at  hand."— [Mat.  xxvi:  18.]— 
Second  Morning  Lesson. 

When  under  dark  and  frowning  skies  we  wend  our 

weary  way, 
And  the  deepening  shades  of  evening  drive  off  the 

light  of  day, 
If  then  our  pathway  lead  us  to  a  dark  and  dreary 

wood, 
Where  the  shades  of  old  gigantic  trees  solemnly  do 

brood, 
We  enter  it  with  fearful  hearts  almost  as  hush'd  in 

gloom 
As  if  it  led  us,  full  of  life,  directly  to  the  tomb  ! 

And  so  upon  the  solemn  path  of  penitence  and 
prayer  — 

For  now  the  church  doth  call  us  all  to  go  as  pil- 
grims there  — 

Beneath  the  darksome  dreary  shades  wherewith  sin 
clothes  the  sky, 

Our  hearts  subdued  with  sacred  awe  in  timid  silence 
lie; 

And  as  we  near  the  season  of  the  Saviour's  awful 
death, 


64  PASSION- WEEK. 

Our  hearts  grow  still  with  deeper  awe,  and  faint 
and  low  our  breath. 

Oh,  grant  us,  Lord,  that  we  may  feel  with  true  and 

keen  distress, 
How  thorough  and  how  deep   it  is  —  our  hearts 

dread  sinfulness ! 
That  so  we  may  be  full  alike  of  gratitude  and  shame, 
And  worthy  homage  offer  to  thy  all-glorious  name. 
That  thou,  the  sinless,  hast  for  us,  the  deeply  sinful, 

bled, 
And  bow'd  on  Calvary's  darken'd  height  thy  pierced 

and  bleeding  head. 


*  PASSION-WEEK. 

The  next  week  before  Easter  has  been  called 
Passion-  Week,  because  it  is  particularly  devoted  to 
the  commemoration  of  the  passion  and  death  of 
Christ.  It  is  also  called  the  Great  Week,  and  the 
Holy  Week,  on  account  of  the  important  transac- 
tions which  it  witnessed,  and  the  solemn  exercises 
of  devotion  prescribed  in  it  by  the  church. 

This  week  was  observed  by  the  primitive  Christ- 
ians with  great  strictness  of  fasting  and  humilia- 
tion.    They  applied  themselves  to  private  and  pub- 


MONDAY     BEFORE     EASTER.  65 

lie  prayer;  to  hearing  and  reading  God's  holy 
word  :  and  to  the  exercise  of  solemn  repentance 
for  the  sins  which  caused  the  sufferings  of  the  Lord 
of  life. 


MONDAY   BEFORE    EASTER 

Is  it  I  ?"— [St.  3Iark,  xiv:  19.]    Gospel  for  the  day. 

Sadly  at  the  pascal  board 
Seated  with  their  blessed  Lord, 
Christ's  disciples  hear  him  say, 
He  must  soon  depart  away. 
When  with  sad  and  solemn  air, 
He  declares  that  one  is  there 
Who,  a  serpent  in  his  way, 
Springing  on  him,  shall  betray  ; — 
All  break  forth  with  mournful  cry, 
Gracious  Lord,  and  "is  it  I"? 

Oh  how  wondrous  !  they  are  there* 
Blessed  objects  of  his  care  ; 
Ever  he  regards  them  such, 
And  he  loves  them  passing  much. 
Now  the  feast  is  nearly  pass'd  ; — 
'T  is  for  all  of  them  the  last  !— 
He  prepares  to  tread  the  path 


66  TUESDAY    BEFORE    EASTER. 

Of  his  father's  righteous  wrath, 
And  for  them  to  bleed  and  die  — 
Well  may  they  question,  "  is  it  In  ? 

Teach  us,  Lord  !  from  Judas'  fall, 
How  dark  and  weak  we  are  all, 
Make  us  feel  that  we  may  be 
Traitorously  vile  as  he  ; 
When  thy  word  declares  how  sin 
Creeps  thy  followers'  hearts  within, 
And  that  feasting  at  thy  board, 
We  may  hate  thee,  blessed  Lord, 
Often  let  us  humbly  cry, 
Holy  Jesus  !  "  is  it  I "  ? 


TUESDAY   BEFORE   EASTER. 

"Arise  and  let  us  go  hence."— [St.  John  xiv:  31.]    Second 
Mon.iogLe.son, 

The  hour  draws  near  —  the  awful  hour, 
When  Christ  must  bow  to  death's  dread  power, 
And  calmly  weighing  all  its  woe, 
He  says,  "  arise,  and  let  us  go  " ! 

Himself  forgot,  he  tries  to  cheer 

His  fainting  followers'  gloom  and  fear  : 


TUESDAY  BEFORE  EASTER.        67 

"  I  leave  you  to  prepare  your  home, 
And  then  the  Comforter  shall  come." 

"  Yet  love  me,  and  obey  my  will, 
And  I  will  love  and  guard  you  still ; 
And  though  on  earth  our  converse  cease, 
I  leave  with  you  my  hallow'd  peace." 

"  Then  be  ye  not  by  fear  distress'd, 
And  let  not  trouble  fill  your  breast ; 
I  will  return  and  cheer  your  woe, 
Therefore  "  arise,  and  let  us  go  "  ! 

What  wondrous  love  !  though  he  could  see 
That  down  th'  abyss  of  agony 
His  tortur'd  soul  must  quickly  sink, 
And  of  its  bitter  waters  drink ; 

Yet  did  he  fail  not,  though  he  stood 
Upon  the  verge  of  that  dark  flood ; 
Still  did  he  spend  his  latest  breath, 
Their  faith  to  cheer  —  nor  heeded  death  ! 

What  are  our  woes  ?  to  his  no  more 
Than  the  light  ripple  on  the  shore 
Whose  gentle  swell  the  pebble  laves, 
Is  to  the  wide  sea's  countless  waves. 

Then  let  us  not,  when  sorrows  come. 
Sink  into  selfish,  cheerless  gloom  : 


r 


68  WEDNESDAY     EEFORE     EASTER. 

When  called  to  tread  the  path  of  wo, 
Cheerfully  let  us  rise  and  go. 

When  called  by  death  from  friends  to  part, 
Though  it  may  try  and  wring  the  heart ; 
And  though  their  tears  may  freely  flow, 
Cheerfully  let  us  rise  and  go. 


WEDNESDAY  BEFORE  EASTER. 

"And  there  appeared  an  angel  unto  him  from  heaven  strength- 
ening him.— [St.  Luke  xxii:  43.]    Gospel  for  the  day. 

Nearer  the  dark  hour  comes  —  alone 

Within  the  garden's  bound, 
The  fainting  Saviour  kneels  and  prays 

In  gloomy  grief  profound  : 
Father,  if  yet  thou  canst  and  wilt, 

Remove  —  remove  the  cup  ! 
Yet  if  it  be  thy  will,  I  '11  drink 

Its  bitter  contents  up  ! 

Blood  oozed  from  out  his  tortured  frame  ; 

He  agonized  in  prayer  ; 
The  crushing  load  that  pressed  his  soul 

Seemed  more  than  he  could  bear. 
The  sins  of  all  a  sinning  world 

Ou  his  pure  heart  were  laid  ; 


THURSDAY  BEFORE  EASTER.        69 


And  with  tremendous  agonies, 
Was  the  high  ransom  paid  ! 

Mysterious  was  the  awful  wo, 

That  shook  the  Saviour's  heart ; 
Nor  we  nor  angels  ne'er  can  know 

Its  keen  and  bitter  smart. 
Dread  indeed  it  must  have  been, 

To  make  his  spirit  dim, 
And  bring  an  angel  down  from  heaven 

To  cheer  and  strengthen  Him. 

Oh,  let  us  pause  and  view  the  scene  ! 

The  lesson  learn  from  it, 
In  trials  dread  beyond  our  strength, 

To  patiently  submit! 
Then,  though  in  crushed  and  prostrate  state, 

Angels  shall  find  us  there, 
And  lift  our  heads  from  out  the  dust, 

And  strengthen  us  to  bear ! 


THURSDAY   BEFORE   EASTER. 

"  Crucify  him  !  crucify  him !" — [St.  Luke  xxiii:  21.]    Gospel 
for  the  day. 

The  garden  agony  is  o'er ; 
The  traitor  kiss  is  given  ; 


70       THURSDAY  BEFORE  EASTER. 

And  the  meek  victim,  now  betrayed, 

To  sacrifice  is  driven. 
Submissive  patience  in  his  mein, 

Love  in  his  gentle  eye, 
He  stands  'mid  the  malignant  crowd, 

Who  cry  out  "crucify!" 

Oh  blessed  sufferer !  shall  we 

When  foes  around  us  throng, 
And  spend  on  us,  with  bitter  hate, 

Their  violence  and  wrong ; 
Shall  we,  who  e'en  deserve  yet  more, 

Raise  a  rebellious  cry, 
When  thou,  all  sinless,  •prayed  for  those 

Whose  shout  was  "  crucify  ?" 

But  see  !  they  lead  him  to  the  cross ; 

They  nail  him  rudely  there  ; 
The  iron,  driven  through  his  limbs, 

Both  soul  and  body  tear ! 
And  yet  no  murmur  'scapes  his  lips ; 

He  is  content  to  die  ; — 
"  Forgive  them"  is  his  latest  prayer ; 

Their  shout  is  "crucify!" 

Oh,  give  to  us  thy  lofty  love, 

Thy  patience  meek  and  mild  ; 
Make  us,  like  thee,  serene  'mid  pain, 


GOOD     FRIDAY.  71 

Yet  humble  as  a  child  ! 
And  when  life's  trials  on  the  heart 

In  gloomy  darkness  lie, 
Remind  us,  Lord,  that  e'en  round  thee 

The  crowd  cried  "  crucify!" 


GOOD    FRIDAY. 

The  church  commemorates  on  the  fast  of  Good 
Friday,  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ.  It  is 
called  Good  Friday  from  the  exalted  good  which  we 
derive  from  his  sufferings  "  who,  by  the  shedding  of 
his  own  blood,  obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us." 

Good  Friday  has  been  observed  from  the  first 
ages  of  Christianity  as  a  day  of  strict  fasting  and 
humiliation.  Christians  should  express  upon  this 
day  deep  grief  for  their  sins,  which  drew  upon  their 
blessed  Saviour  the  shameful  and  painful  death  of 
the  cross. 

"  It  is  finished."— [St.  John  xix:  30.]    Gospel  for  the  day. 

Be  still :  —  it  is  an  awful  hour  — 

The  earth  is  clothed  in  gloom  ; 
See  ye  not  there  in  ghastly  guise 

The  tenants  of  the  tomb  ? 
In  winding  sheets  they  walk  the  streets, 

And  meet  their  kindred  there  ; 


72  GOODFRIDAY. 

Their  shadowy  white,  with  dubious  light, 
Makes  pale  the  dismal  air. 

The  temple  walls  in  vain  are  strong, 

Its  gates  are  closed  in  vain  ; 
The  holiest  is  now  exposed  — 

Its  veil  is  rent  in  twain. 
The  crazy  earth  with  struggling  birth, 

Gives  to  an  earthquake  vent  ; 
And  with  loud  shocks  the  heaving  rocks 

Are  violently  rent ! 

Well  may  the  air  grow  dark  and  drear  ; 

Well  may  the  dead  arise  ; 
Well  may  the  solid  rocks  be  rent, 

For  Christ  their  Lord  now  dies  ! 
Oh,  not  a  flower  fades  ere  its  hour 

When  man  resigns  his  breath  ; — 
But  earth's  toss'd  breast  doth  well  attest 

Its  Maker's  awful  death. 

'T  was  awful !     All  its  pain  he  met, 

Though  flesh  might  faint  and  shrink  ; 
And  from  the  drugg'd  wine's  ofter'd  cup 

He  turn'd,  and  would  not  drink  : 
He  felt  the  worst  which  sin  accurs'd 

Could  on  his  soul  impose, 
That  he  his  love  might  better  prove 

For  all  our  human  woes  ! 


EASTER    EVEN.  73 

'Tis  finished  now  !  That  wondrous  plan 

Of  grace  to  sinners  given  ; 
The  travail  of  his  soul  is  pass'd, 

And  Christ  is  King  in  heaven  ! 
The  work  is  done,  and  heaven  is  won, 

Because  our  Lord  hath  died  ; 
And,  save  the  cross,  we  count  all  loss  — 

With  Him  we  're  crucified  ! 


EASTER    EVEN. 

The  fast  of  Easter  Even  is  designed  to  commem- 
orate the  state  in  which  our  Saviour  existed  between 
his  death  and  resurrection  ;  a  state  of  being,  belief 
in  which  is  expressed  in  the  creed  by  the  words 
"he  descended  into  hell,"  or,  "he  went  into  the 
place  of  departed  spirits."  *  The  word,  hell,  is 
expressed  in  the  original  by  two  words;  one  of 
which  is  used  to  denote  the  place  of  torment,  the 
other  the  place  of  departed  spirits  :  and  in  this  lat- 
ter signification  it  is  supposed  to  be  used  in  the 
creed. 

That  there  is  a  place  where  the  souls  of  the  de- 
parted rest  till  the  resurrection,  seems  evident  from 
the  fact  that  scripture  represents  the  rewards  of 
heaven  and  the  punishments  of  hell  as  adjudged  to 

♦Rubric  before  the  Apostles'  creed. 
G 


74  EASTER    EVEN. 

the  righteous  and  the  wicked  at  the  General  Judg- 
ment after  the  resurrection.  As  we  cannot  suppose 
the  soul  to  become  insensible  after  death,  it  must 
remain  in  a  state  distinct  from  the  proper  happiness 
of  heaven  or  the  misery  of  hell. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  church  has  appointed 
morning  and  evening  lessons,  and  an  epistle  and 
gospel,  which  form  part  of  a  morning  service,  for 
this  fast ;  and  that  therefore  the  term  Easter  Even, 
was  not  meant  to  apply  to  the  night  time,  but  to  the 
whole  day. 

"  He  descended  into  hell." — [Apostles'  creed.] 

Mysterious  place,  where  spirits  wait 

Their  pure  and  perfect  bliss, 
Catching  some  joy  from  life  to  come, — 

Freed  from  the  pain  of  this. 
Moved  not  thy  shadowy  realm  to  hail 

The  Lord  of  life  and  death, 
Who  ere  he  rose  supreme  o'er  all, 

Descended  first  beneath  ? 

There  did  he  'mid  the  hosts  of  God, 

A  sweet  communion  hold, 
And  cheer  them  by  his  coming,  long 

By  prophecy  foretold  ? 
Did  they  not  feel  when  thou  wert  there, 

'T  were  bliss  enough  to  be, — 


EASTEREVEN.  75 

Without  high  heaven's  consummate  joy, — 
Forever,  Lord,  with  thee  ? 

Mysterious  realm !  canst  thou  not  send 

Some  blessed  spirit  back, 
To  cheer  us,  as  we  onward  wend 

Along  life's  weary  track? 
Our  friends  —  are  they  all  there  and  blest? 

And  "  do  they  love  us  still  ?" 
And  do  they  hover  round  our  path, 

Knowing  our  good  and  ill  ? 

Oh  tell  us  !  Is  it  but  a  dream, 

When  In  the  silent  night 
They  come  and  bless  us,  and  appear 

So  beautiful  and  bright  ? 
The  halo'd  form,  the  loving  eye, 

That  the  deep  spirit  warms, 
Are  they  from  thee  —  or  but  the  shapes 

Desiring  fancy  forms  ? 

No  voice  replies  !  Enough  to  know 

That  there  all  spirits  rest : 
The  lost  to  be  more  wretched  still, 

The  happy  still  more  blest  ! 
Enough  to  know  that  when  the  soul 

Shakes  off  its  cumbering  clod, 
It  enters  heaven's  near  ante-room, 

And  there  awaits  its^GoD. 


76  EASTER    SUNDAY. 

And  though  with  fading  dying  flowers, 

The  fragrance  too  be  past ; 
Though  when  the  harp-strings  shatter'd  are, 

The  music  breathes  its  last. 
Yet  when  the  body  blends  with  earth, 

'T  is  it  alone  that  dies  ; 
The  freed  soul  hastens  to  its  home, 

With  Christ  in  Paradise  !  * 


EASTER-SUNDAY. 

The  Church  commemorates  this  day,  the  glorious 
event  of  our  Saviour's  resurrection.  This  festival, 
for  antiquity  and  excellence,  takes  precedence  of  all 
others ;  it  was  observed  from  the  very  first  ages, 
the  only  dispute  being,  not  about  the  propriety  of 
the  festival  itself,  but  about  the  proper  day  on  which 
it  was  to  be  observed.  It  was  anciently  called  the 
Great  Day,  the  Feast  of  Feasts,  and  the  Queen  of 
Feasts. 

The  term  Easter,  is  derived  from  a  Saxon  word, 
which  means  to  rise.  This  fast  is  always  held  on 
the  Sunday  after  the  full  moon  which  immediately 
succeeds  the  twenty-first  day  of  March — the  vernal 

*  Paradise  is  the  name  which  our  Saviour  applied  to  the  place 
of  happy  departed  spirits  when  he  said  to  the  penitent  thief, — 
"  This  day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise." 


EASTER    SUNDAY.  77 

equinox.  The  occurrence  of  Easter  Sunday  regu- 
lates all  the  movable  feasts  of  the  year.  It  cannot 
be  earlier  than  the  twenty-second  of  March,  nor 
later  than  the  twenty-fifth  of  April. 

Oh,  blessed  and  bright  is  the  Easter-day 

That  cometh  in  early  spring, 
When  the  first  flowers  win  through  the  ground 
their  way, 

And  the  birds  merrily  sing. 
'T  is  the  fresh  spring-time,  when  life  from  death 

Doth  leap  into  gladsome  birth  ; 
And  o'er  the  dead  world  come  a  wakening  breath  — 

'T  is  the  Easter-day  of  earth  ! 

Rejoice  !  rejoice  !     The  Saviour  hath  risen 

From  the  dark  and  noisome  tomb ; — 
To  roll  the  stone  from  his  rocky  prison, 

Angels  from  heaven  have  come. 
Oh  rejoice  !  rejoice  !  for  there's  joy  in  heaven, 

And  there's  mad  chagrin  in  hell ; 
For  the  blest  now  know  that  man's  ransom 's  given, 

And  the  fiends  do  know  as  well ! 

Oh,  blessed  and  bright  is  the  Easter-day, 

For  our  Saviour's  pains  are  o'er ; 
Escaped  from  the  curse  of  our  sins  away, 

He  will  bleed  for  us  no  more. 


78  EASTER    SUNDAY. 

And  he  shall  go  up  with  a  merry  noise, 

And  his  saints  shall  with  him  go ; 
And  they  all  shall  drink  of  the  deathless  joys 

That  from  God,  their  fountain,  flow ! 

Oh  blessed  and  bright  is  the  Easter-day  : 

It  tells  us  that  we  shall  rise, 
And  shall  join  the  Lord  when  his  bright  array 

Comes  flashing  along  the  skies. 
For  the  dry  seed  springs,   and  the    dead  flowers 
bloom, 

And  man,  like  his  Maker  made, 
Shall  rise  from  the  dust  of  the  narrow  tomb, 

In  glory  angelic  arrayed  ! 


EASTER  MONDAY  AND  TUESDAY. 

The  design  of  the  church  in  these  days  is  to 
confirm  our  faith  in  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection. 

EASTER   MONDAY. 

"  Then  Peter  opened  his  mouth  and  said,  of  a  truth  1  perceive 
that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons  ;  but  in  every  nation  he  that 
feareth  him  and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him."— 
[Acts  x:  34,  35.]  Portion  of  scripture,  appointed  for  the  epistle 
for  the  day. 

When  dropp'd  into  the  silent  deep 
The  pebble  moves  a  wave, 


EASTER    MONDAY.  79 

Whose  widening  circles  onward  sweep, 
And  wake  old  ocean's  tranquil  sleep, 
And  distant  regions  lave  ! 

So  to  Jerusalem  the  word 

Of  light  and  life  first  sent 
By  willing  hearts,  and  warm,  was  heard, 
Then  hearts  beyond  those  bounds  it  stirr'd, 

Till  o'er  the  world  it  went. 

It  circled  round  the  Grecian  isles, 

It  washed  the  Lybian  strand  ; 
It  swelled  from  off  the  chalky  piles 
Where  throned  Britain  sits  and  smiles, 

To  India's  gorgeous  land ! 

The  Idol  Temples'  corner  stones 

Were  shaken  where  it  went, 
And  with  their  crash,  the  mournful  tones 
Of  superstition's  dying  groans 

Most  fearfully  were  blent. 

Oh  God  !  yet  speed  that  wave  of  light, 

Till  o'er  the  world  it  rolls, 
And  dissipates  the  moral  night 
Which  broods  with  dark  malignant  might 

O'er  countless  human  souls  ! 


80  EASTER     TUESDAY, 


EASTER    TUESDAY. 

"  Therefore  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature. 
Old  things  are  passed  away,  behold  all  things  are  become  new." 
[2nd  Corin,  v:  17.J     Second  Lesson  for  Evening. 

'T  is  wondrous  that  from  its  dark  grave, 
The  starry  butterfly  breaks  forth, 

And  seems,  as  free  its  bright  wings  wave, 
A  living  flower  broke  loose  from  earth  ! 

But  yet  more  wondrous  is  the  soul 
That  may  from  sins  dread  grave  arise, 

And  spurning  longer  earth's  control, 
Spread  its  bright  pinions  for  the  skies. 

Itself  renewed,  all  things  are  new  ; — 
A  change  hath  come  o'er  all  the  world  ; 

Its  olden  beauty  fades  from  view  ; 
Its  banner'd  glory  all  is  furled. 

It  cannot  see  what  once  it  did  ; 

The  garlands  drop  from  grinning  death  ; 
And  pleasure,  now  no  longer  hid, 

Shows  gnawing  worms  its  heart  beneath. 

Old  things  are  pass'd — all  things  are  new; 

A  holier  world  it  lives  within, 
Where  blessed  prospects  cheer  the  view, 

Though  shadow'd  yet  by  lingering  sin. 


EASTER     TUESDAY.  81 

Within  that  world  Ciirist  lives  and  reigns  ; 

Round  him  its  clustering  pleasures  cling  ; 
He  soothes  the  spirits  griefs  and  pains  — 

He  gives  to  joy  its  freest  wing. 

It  is  a  world  of  hope  and  love  ; 

A  world  of  faith,  and  praise,  and  prayer, 
Where  come  bless'd  spirits  from  above  ; 

For  God's  own  smile  is  resting  there. 


FIRST  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER 

"Whatsoever  is  born  of  God  overcometh  the  world."— [I 
John  v:  4.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

The  soul  of  man,  which,  fixed  on  earth, 
Derives  from  God  its  second  birth, 
Panting  and  fluttering  towards  its  home, 
This  fleeting  world  doth  overcome. 

It  sees  what  once  it  could  not  see  ; 
It  feels  what  once  it  could  not  feel ; 
Life's  rainbow  hues  forever  flee, 
And  the  rude  rocks  and  thorns  reveal. 

New  sight,  new  taste,  new  joy,  new  hope, 
Exhaustless  mines  of  pleasure  ope ;  — 


82  FIRST    SUNDAY    AFTER     EASTER. 

As  this  world  changes  to  its  view, 
The  other  world  is  changing  too : 

As  this  grows  poor,  and  dim,  and  dull, 
That  grows  glorious,  beautiful ! 
But  all  its  glories,  rich  and  rare, 
Are  scarcely  seen,  for  Christ  is  there  ! 

It  cannot  find  its  rest  below ; 

It  cannot  settled  comfort  know ; 

It  seems  a  lost  and  banished  thing 

Of  bright  though  dim'd  and  drooping  wing  ! 

It'moves  amid  life's  joyous  crowd, 
With  sorrow's  seeming  burden  bow'd, 
Yet  in  its  secret  chambers  rest 
The  priceless  treasures  of  the  blest ! 

And  as  the  dove,  whose  silver  wings 
Have  lain  mid  base  defiling  things, 
Winging  towards  heaven  its  tranquil  flight, 
In  its  pure  dews  grows  clean  and  white. 

So  shall  the  soul  which  flies  above, 
And  floats  within  the  heaven  of  love, 
Grow  purer  for  its  blessed  home, 
And  the  dark  world  thus  overcome  ! 


SECOND     SUNDAY     AFTER     EASTER.  83 

SECOND  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

THE  PENITENT  CHURCH. 

[Hosea,  Chap,  xiv:]     First  Evening  Lesson. 

Prostrate  before  thine  awful  throne, 

Thy  Church,  oh  God,  in  suppliance  bends  : 
Her  sackcloth  robe  is  girded  on  ; 

Her  wailing  cry  to  thee  ascends. 
She  pleads  with  thee  for  pardoning  grace, 

And  meekly  all  her  sins  confesses  ; — 
With  Christ's  own  blood  her  stains  efface ! — 

The  cleansing  blood  that  saves  and  blesses  !  * 

She  will  not  on  the  world's  arm  lean  ; 

She  will  not  on  herself  rely  ; 
Low  in  the  dust  she  cries  "  unclean  "  ! 

And  dare  not  draw  thy  presence  high. 
She  knows  that  she  is  weak  and  vile, 

And  dares  approach  thy  footstool,  only 
Because  she  knows  that  thou  wilt  smile 

Upon  the  contrite,  lost  and  lonely !  f 

"  Freely  my  love  on  thee  I  shed, 

Freely  thy  past  offence  forgive  ; 
My  grace  like  dew  upon  thee  spread, 

t  Hosea  xiv:  1,  2.  t  lb.  3d  v. 


84  SECOND    SUNDAY    AFTER     EASTER. 

Shall  bid  thee  wake  again  and  live. 
And  thou  shalt  like  the  lily  grow, 

That  spotless  springs  beneath  the  sun, 
And  firmly  fix  thyself  below, 

Like  cedar  roots  on  Lebanon  "  !  * 

"  Thy  branches  far  and  wide  shall  spread. 

Thy  beauty  like  the  olive's  be  ; 
And  from  thy  crown'd  and  lofty  head, 

Shall  come  refreshing  fragrancy. 
All  they  who  'neath  thy  shadow  come, 

As  corn  that  finds  a  favoring  place, 
Or  nurtur'd  vine,  whose  clusters  bloom  ; — 

Shall  grow  in  holiness  and  grace  "  !  t 

Thus  bless'd  of  thee,  Oh  Lord  of  Love, 

Thy  Church  shall  praise  thee  and  adore  ; 
And  fixing  all  her  hopes  above, 

Say  "  What  do  I  with  idols  more  "  ? 
I  've  heard  thy  voice,  thy  voice  obey'd; — 

Thanksgiving  for  its  gracious  sound  ! 
And  by  thy  blessing  fruitful  made, 

On  me  shall  holy  fruit  be  found."  J 

*Hoseaxlv:4  5.  fib  6,  7.  Jib.  8. 


THIRD  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER.      S5 


THIRD  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

WE    AEF,    STRANGERS    AND    PILGRIMS. 

•'  Dearly  beloved,  I  beseech^ou  as  strangers  and  pilgrims,  ab- 
stain from  fleshly  lusts  which  war  against  the  soul." — [1st  St. 
Peter,  ii:  11.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

"Strangers  and  pilgrims"  —  so  we  are; 

'T  is  our  high  privilege  to  be  ; 
Our  home  and  country  lies  afar  — 

We  're  travelling  to  eternity  ! 
Lightly  we  pitch  our  tents  below  ; 

We  can  not  —  would  not  —  dare  not  stay; 
We  pause  to  rest  —  then  onward  go  ; 

We  stoop  to  drink  —  and  then  away  ! 

The  howling  storms  beat  o'er  our  path ; 

The  lowering  clouds  invest  the  sky; 
And  even  the  day  which  sunshine  hath, 

Rests  on  our  brows  too  scorchingly. 
We  cannot  stay  —  we  long  for  rest 

Within  our  Father's  calm  abode, 
Where  heat  nor  storms  no  more  molest, 

Where  reign  our  Saviour  and  our  God. 

Though  on  a  holy  mount  we  stop, 

Where  heaven  seems  coming  down  to  us 
Where  blessed  radience  bathes  the  top, 

H 


86     THIRD  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

And  Christ  seems  doubly  glorious ; 
"  Here  let  us  pitch  our  tents  and  stay,"  * 

Though  in  our  raptur'd  trance  we  cry, 
Because  we  "  wist  not  what  to  say  ;"  f 

Yet  e'en  its  glories  fade  and  die  ! 

Oh  then  as  strangers  let  us  live, 

As  pilgrims  pass  life's  desert  through  ; 
Lured  by  no  joy  the  world  can  give, 

And  always  keeping  heaven  in  view. 
We  rest  not  long  beneath  the  shade  ; 

We  take  not  with  us  gauds  and  toys, 
Lest  by  their  cumbering  weight  delayed, 

We  fail  to  reach  eternal  joys  ! 

Cheerily,  then,  we'll  rise  and  go, 

Singing  as  onward  still  we  wend ; — 
For  wearier  as  our  footsteps  grow, 

The  nearer  is  our  journey's  end. 
And  should  we,  as  we  near  the  gate, 

Fall  panting  ere  we  quite  could  win  ; 
The  angel  guards  that  round  it  wait, 

Shall  bear  us  up  and  take  us  in  ! 

*  The  language  of  St.  Peter  at  the  transfiguration  of  the  Sav- 
iour.—[Mark  ix:  5.  t  lb.  ix:  6. 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

"  Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is  from  above,  and 
cometh  down  from  the  Father  of  lights  with  whom  is  no  variable- 
ness, neither  shadow  of  turning." — [St.  James  i:  17.  Epistle  for 
the  day. 

How  cheering  to  know,  in  a  dark  world  like  this, 
Where  the  spirit  of  change  mars  each  fabric  of  bliss  ; 
And  now  in  the  heart  of  all  loveliness  lurks, 
And  now  sits  and  sneers  o'er  the  ruin  it  works  — 
How  cheering  to  know  that  there  rules  One  above, 
Who  sits  on  a  throne,  all  whose  pillars  are  love  ; 
In  whom,  mid  the  wrecks  of  worlds  ruined   and 

burning, 
There  cannot  be  change,  neither  shadow  of  turning; 
His  promises  sure,  we  can  turn  unto  him 
When  all  else  about  us  grows  darkling  and  dim  ; — 
As  the  scene  of  our  joys  to  his  fixed  throne  is  tied, 
We  know  that  forever  it  still  will  abide, 
And  the  changes  that  come  shall  not  tell  of  decay, 
But  of  beauty  and  glory  increasing  for  aye  ! 


88      FIFTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER. 

FIFTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  EASTER 

THE  COMFORTER. 
[St.  John  xvi:  5.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

We  heed  him  not  when  health  is  ours, 

And  pulses  strongly  stir  ; 
But  when  disease  invades  the  powers, 

We  seek  a  comforter ! 

When  pleasure  frolics  round  our  path, 

We  trifle  long  with  her ; 
But  when  she  comes  to  reap  in  wrath, 

Flee  to  a  comforter., 

When  passion's  hosts  invade  the  heart, 

And  the  soul's  vision  blur, 
We  yield  it  up,  and  feel  the  smart  — 

Then  seek  a  comforter  ! 

Many  are  thy  names  and  sweet, 

But  oh,  none  lovelier 
Thou  blest,  life-giving  Paraclete, 

Than  this  of  comforter  ! 

Oh  grant  us,  Lord,  before  we  yet 

In  sin  too  widely  err, 
And  grieve  him  till  he  quite  forget  ~ 

Grant  thy  true  comforter  ! 


ASCENSION    DAY. 


ASCENSION   DAY. 

The  Church  this  day  commemorates  our  blessed 
Saviour's  ascension  into  heaven,  and  his  sitting  at 
the  right  hand  of  God.  The  commemoration  of 
Christ's  ascension,  at  the  expiration  of  forty  days 
after  the  resurrection,  has  always  been  observed  as 
a  festival  in  the  church. 

"  This  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  us  into  heaven,  shall 
so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven."— 
[Acts  i:  11.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

The  Saviour  goes  up  on  his  bright  car  of  cloud, 
Which,  sent  by  the  Father,  to  bear  him  hath  bow'd  ; 
And  his  startled  disciples  stand  gazing  with  dread 
At  the  fast  fading  glory  that  beams  o'er  their  head. 

They  could  see  ihe  mild  Pageant  float  upward  afar, 
Till  it  shone  with  the  light  of  evening's  soft  star  ; 
And  it  seemed  as  from  sight  in  the  blue  depths  it 

stole, 
Like  the  light  of  dear  hope  going  out  in  the  soul. 

But  they  saw  not  the  bright  hosts  of  angels  that 

came 
With  joyfullest  speed  on  their  pinions  of  flame  ; 
They  heard  not  their  harpings  which  rang  through 

the  dome,  [home. 

Nor  the  loud  shout  of  triumph  which  welcom'd  him 

H* 


90  SUNDAY    AFTER     ASCENSION     DAY. 

There  's  jubilee  now  in  the  blest  ranks  above, 
And  all  hearts  are  brimming  with  rapture  and  love  ; 
And  the  smile  of  the  Father  now  blent  with  the 
Son's,  [runs. 

With  a  thrill  of  new  joy  through  each  blest  bosom 

And  let  us,  who  are  left  by  the  rapt  Saviour  here, 
No  longer  stand  gazing  in  wonder  and  fear, 
But  prepare  for  his  coming,  in  judgment  and  ire, 
In  his  angel-girt  chariot,  rolling  on  fire  ! 


SUNDAY  AFTER  ASCENSION  DAY 

COLLECT  FOR  THE  DAY. 

Oh,  King  of  glory,  mighty  God  ! 
Who  to  thine  own  and  blest  abode,. 
Thine  only  Son,  in  triumph  high, 
Hast  exalted  gloriously  ; 
We  pray  thee  look  on  us  and  bless, 
And  leave  us  not  all  comfortless  ! 

Oh  send  thy  holy  spirit  here, 
Our  sorrowing  hearts  and  lone  to  cheer, 
And  lift  us  to  that  scene  of  bliss 
Where  Christ,  our  blessed  Saviour  is ; 
Where,  with  the  spirit  and  with  thee, 
He  lives  and  reigns  eternally  ! 


WHITSUNDAY.  91 


WHITSUNDAY. 

This  festival  is  designed  to  commemorate  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  on  the  Apostles  in  the 
shape  of  cloven  fiery  tongues.  It  occurred  on  the 
Jewish  feast  of  Pentecost,  the  anniversary  of  the 
giving  of  the  law  at  Mount  Sinai. 

This  festival  may  have  been  called  Whitsunday, 
that  is,  White  Sunday,  from  the  diffusion  of  light 
which  on  this  day  fell  on  the  Apostles ;  or,  more 
probably,  from  its  being  one  of  the  two  principal 
seasons  of  Baptism,  when  all  who  were  baptized 
wore  white  garments,  in  token  of  the  spiritual  purity 
signified  by  the  ordinance. 

"  When  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  they  were  all 
with  one  accord  in  one  place  ;  and  suddenly  there  came  a  sound 
from  heaven,  as  of  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  and  it  rilled  all  the 
house  where  they  were  sitting.  And  there  appeared  cloven 
tongues  like  as  of  fire,  and  it  sat  upon  each  of  theru." — [Acts  ii: 
1,  2,  3.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

Spirit  !  that  on  the  strong  wind  rushed, 

In  cloven  tongues  of  fire, 
And  in  the  Apostles'  aw'd  hearts  gushed, 
And  all  the  place  with  glory  flushed  — 

Our  languid  hearts  inspire  ! 

And  though  to  us  may  not  be  given 
A  grace  so  free  and  wide, 


92  WHITSUNDAY. 

4 

As  wont  to  come  of  old  from  heaven 
Into  the  soul  resistless  driven, 
A  full  and  rushing  tide  ; — 

Yet  fill  us,  Holy  Ghost,  with  love  ; 

Fill  us  with  living  zeal ; 
And  let  thine  ever-brooding  dove 
The  warm'd  heart's  weakened  feelings  move 

More  burningly  to  feel  ! 

Oh  cleanse  our  vile,  neglected  hearts  ! 

They  need  —  they  need  it  much  ! 
Efface  the  stains  which  sin  imparts, 
Till  every  cankered  spot  departs 

Before  thy  healing  touch  ! 

Give  to  thy  heralds  double  grace 

To  preach  to  sinners  lost,. 
Till  there  shall  come  to  each  dark  place, 
To  every  name  and  every  race, 

A  blessed  Pentecost  ! 


MONDAY     IN     WHITSDN-WEEK.  93 


MONDAY    IN    WHITSUN-WEEK. 

"  And  this  is  the  condemnation  that  light  is  come  into  the 
world,  and  men  loved  darkness  rather  than  light  because  their 
deeds  were  evil.  For  every  one  that  doeth  evil  hateth  the  light, 
neither  cometh  to  the  light,  lest  his  deeds  should  be  reproved." 
[St.  John  iii:  19,  20.]     Gospel  for  the  day. 

The  rugged  cliff  at  distance  view'd, 

With  twilight's  softening  veil  before  it, 
Seems  with  as  fair  a  tint  imbued 

As  the  blue  heaven  that  's  bending  o'er  it ; 
And  Fancy,  should  her  eye  rest  there, 

Would  call  it  "peace  and  beauty's  dwelling  :." 
And  deem  its  flowers  were  fresh  and  rare, 

And  its  pure  fountains  softly  welling. 

But  when  the  cliff  is  nearer  seen, 

And  noon-day's  sun  is  on  it  shining, 
Appear  sharp  thorns,  rough  rocks  between, 

And  hissing  serpents  round  them  twining. 
Upon  an  old  and  shiver'd  branch, 

The  bird  of  prey  is  screaming, 
And  in  their  dens  the  wild  beasts  cranch 

Their  savage  meals  with  red  eyes  gleaming. 

So  human  hearts  may  beauty  wear, 

'Neath  nature's  twilight  dim  and  tender, 
And  seem  to  be  surpassing  fair, 


94  TUESDAY    IN     W H I T S UN  -  W  E E K . 

The  home  of  glory,  honor,  splendor ! 
But  when  the  spirit's  light  shines  in, 

To  the  clear  day  their  depths  revealing  ; 
Then  does  it  show  the  shapes  of  sin, 

Through  all  their  gloomy  by-ways  stealing. 

There  av'rice,  lust  and  hatred  are, 

And  there  their  carnival  are  keeping ; 
The  passions  all  are  gathered  there  — 

Some  are  awake  and  some  are  sleeping. 
No  wonder  that  they  hate  the  light, 

Which  shapes  so  dark  and  vile  uncovers, 
And  dimness  love,  which  to  the  sight 

Softens  the  scenes  round  which  it  hovers  ! 


TUESDAY    IN    WH  I  T  S  UN- W  E  E  K. 

PRAY  WITHOUT  CEASING. 

[1st  Thess.  v:  17.]    Second  Morning  Lesson. 

When  first,  oh  man,  your  waken'd  eyes 
Salute  the  joyous  morning  skies, 
And  your  fresh  spirits  are  as  bright 
And  happy  as  the  just  born  light; 
And  your  glad  veins  are  bounding  free 
In  life's  and  health's  full  revelry ; 


TUESDAY     IN      WIHTSUN-WEEK.  95 

Then  would  you  give  to  feeling  play, 
And  make  e'en  transport  happier — pray! 

And  when  days'  noisy  scenes  are  past, 
And  silent  evening  conies  at  last, 
And  quiet  settles  on  the  soul, 
With  holy  and  divine  control ; 
Making  you  feel  the  solemn  power 
Of  that  most  sacred  musing  hour, 
Ere  sink  your  souls  in  sleep  away, 
Oh  give  them  to  your  Maker — pray! 

And  when  as,  week  by  week,  you  hear 
The  preacher's  words  salute  your  ear, 
And  urge  you  now  your  souls  to  bring 
To  Christ,  an  humble  offering, 
And,  lying  at  his  blessed  feet, 
Hear  his  pard'ning  accents  sweet ; 
Oh  yield  your  hearts  to  his  kind  sway, 
Confess  his  mighty  love  —  and  pray  ! 

And  when  you  read  his  sacred  word, 
And  feel  your  heart  divinely  stirr'd, 
Melting  in  pity  and  distress 
O'er  Jesus'  trying  wretchedness, 
Or,  kindling,  as  you  see  him  shine, 
In  all  the  God-head's  power  divine, 
Yield  to  the  rushing  spirit's  sway, 
Gladly  give  up  your  hearts  —  and  pray  / 


96  TRINITY     SUNDAY. 

In  every  scene  of  joy  or  wo, 

That  lights  or  dims  your  path  below  — 

In  every  state  of  life  or  health  — 

In  want,  or  competence,  or  wealth  : 

If  you  would  find  a  balm  for  grief, 

For  painful  gratitude  relief, 

Remorse's  vultures  fright  away, 

And  woo  sweet  peace,  the  dove  —  oh  pray ! 


TRINITY    SUNDAY. 

This  festival,  in  commemoration  of  the  doctrine 
of  the  ever-blessed  Trinity,  is  comparatively  of  mo- 
dern date.  As  the  praises  of  the  Trinity  were 
constantly  celebrated  in  the  doxologies  and  hymns 
and  creeds  of  the  ancient  church,  it  was  not  thought 
necessary  to  set  apart  a  particular  day  for  that  which 
was  done  on  each.  In  consequence,  however,  of 
the  heresies  of  Arius  and  others  who  opposed  this 
divine  mystery,  the  church  thought  proper  that  the 
great  mystery  of  the  Trinity  should  be  more  solemn- 
ly commemorated  on  a  particular  day. 

The  day  was  chosen  in  preference  to  any  other 
for  the  more  solemn  celebration  of  the  mystery,  be- 
cause after  our  Lord's  ascension  into  heaven,  and 
the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  his  disciples. 


TRINITY     SUNDAY.  97 

there  ensued  the  full  knowledge  of  the  glorious  and 
incomprehensible  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  The 
church  having  celebrated  in  order  all  the  greater 
festivals,  the  Nativity,  Epiphany,  Resurrection, 
Ascension  of  our  Lord,  and  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  properly  concludes  these  solemnities  with  a 
full,  special,  and  express  service  to  the  honor  of  the 
holy,  blessed  and  glorious  Trinity. 

"  And  Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went  straightway  out  of 
the  water  ;  and  lo,  the  heavens  were  opened  unto  him,  and  he 
saw  the  spirit  of  God  descending  upon  him  like  a  dove  and 
lighting  upon  him;  and,  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  This  is 
ray  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." — [St.  Mat.  iii:  16 
and  17.]     Second  Morning  Lesson. 

Behold  the  dread,  mysterious  Three, 

Father,  Son,  and  Dove, 
On  earth  the  blessed  Trixity, 

Fulfilling  plans  of  love. 

We  see  cloud  blend  with  cloud  on  high, 

And  streams  together  flow  ; 
But  their  mysterious  unity 

We  cannot  grasp  or  know. 

Distinct,  yet  one  ;  apart,  yet  blent 

In  union  close  and  dear  ; 
One  sending  and  the  other  sent ; — 

The  one  above,  one  here. 


98  TRINITY   SUNDAY. 

How  can  we  grasp  a  thought  like  this? 

We  '11  task  our  minds  no  more  ; 
Content  with  all  the  hosts  of  bliss 

To  wander  and  adore  ! 

Yet  our  weak  human  hearts  and  fond, 

Dreading  to  be  alone, 
Can  scarce  with  bliss  and  joy  surround 

A  solitary  throne  ! 

They  see  it  wrapped  in  clouds  of  gloom, 

Of  judgment  and  of  ire, 
And  o'er  it  writ  the  awards  of  doom 

In  characters  of  fire. 

As,  gazing  on  the  blinding  sun, 
The  dazzled  vision  views 

Strange  shapes  across  the  blue  sky  run, 
All  clothed  in  sombre  hues ; 

So,  far  too  awful  for  our  eye, 

And  seen  not  as  it  is, 
We  turn  its  bless'd  sublimity 

To  dread  severities  ! 

But  when  we  know  that  Christ  is  there. 

Who,  with  the  Holy  Dove, 
Doth,  with  the  Father,  Godhead  share, 

It  seems  all  light  and  love  ! 


TRINITY     SUNDAY.  99 

Faith  fixes  there  her  eager  glance  ; 

Hope's  pinion  upward  springs; 
And  love,  in  deep  and  hallow'd  trance, 

To  the  throne's  footstool  clings. 

Father  !   give  us  this  truth  to  feel, 

That  thou  and  they  are  one ; 
And,  through  thy  Holy  Ghost,  reveal 

Thy  blessed  self  and  Son  ! 

Son  !  plead  for  us  at  God's  right  hand ; 

Thy  death  and  passion  plead ! 
Our  loving  Advocate,  still  stand, 

And  for  us  intercede  ! 

Spirit  !  send  thy  quick'ning  breath 

Our  dormant  souls  to  move, 
That  they  may  feel  Christ's  precious  death, 
And  God's  exceeding  love  ! 


100  FIRST     SUNDAY     AFTER    TRINITY. 


FIRST    SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 

"  And  this  commandment  have  we  from  him  ; — That  he  who 
loveth  God,  love  his  brother  also  "—[1st  St.  John,  iv:  21.]— 
Epistle  for  the  day. 


Poor  we  need  not  ever  be ; 

Wealth  may  be  always  ours, 
To  give  to  poor  humanity 

In  fertilizing  showers. 


t? 


Does  the  proud  rich  man  scorn  our  lot. 

Passing  in  splendor  by  1 
We  give  him  what  his  wealth  buys  not  — 

Our  Christian  charity  ! 

Do  foes  their  thirsting  vengeance  slake, 

And  all  our  stay  remove  ? 
We  give  them  more  than  they  can  take  — 

A  Christian's  pardoning  love! 

And  though  in  want,  and  gloom,  and  wo, 
Darkly  through  life  we  rove  — 

We  scatter  treasures  as  we  go  ; — 
Treasures  of  Christian  love  ! 


SECOND    SUNDAY    AFTER     TRINITY.  101 


SECOND  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  For  if  our  heart  condemn  us,  God  is  greater  than  our  hearts, 
and  knoweth  all  things." — [1st  John,  iii:  20.]  Epistle  for  the  day. 

Were  an  angel  sent  down  from  the  regions  above, 
To  guide  us  through  life  from  the  hour  we  were 
born  ; 

Who,  when  we  did  well,  should  smile  on  us  in  love  ; 
And  when  we  did  ill  should  rebuke  us  and  warn  : 

How  ashamed  we  should    feel  that  his  pure  eye 
should  see, 
And  his  pure  heart  be  grieved  by  our  folly  and 
sin; 
And  how  would  we  strive  in  his  presence  to  be 
All  free  from  corruption  without  and  within ! 

Such  an  angel  we  have,  though  unseen,  at  our  side, 
And  he  whispers  his  warnings  persuasive  and 
"  still," 

But  down  on  the  stream  of  indulgence  we  glide, 
Propell'd  by  our  passions,  our  lust  and  our  will ! 

But  a  greater  than  angels,  or  viewless  or  seen, 
Is  ever  about  us,  and  looks  through  the  heart  ; 

And  we  ne'er  from  his  eye  its  corruption  can  screen, 

Or  from  its  calm  watching  one  moment  depart. 

i* 


102  THIRD    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

Oh  then  let  us  beware,  and  tremblingly  feel 

That,  if  conscience,  so  darkened,  hath  any  control,. 

Where  its  voice  of  rebuke  now  in  whispers  doth 
steal, 
How  God's  voice  of  anger  shall  startle  the  soul ! 


THIRD  SUNDAY  AFTER   TRINITY 

BE  CLOTHED  WITH  HUMILITY. 
[1st  St.  Peter  v:  5.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

Oh  put  it  as  a  garment  on ! 

'T  is  the  pilgrim's  fitting  dress, 
And  by  its  sober  aspect  known, 

Some  may  scorn,  but  some  will  bless  ! 

JT  is  better  than  a  golden  shield 

To  secure  thy  sure  defence  ; 
For  murder  oft  will  homage  yield, 

To  an  humble  innocence. 

And  never  put  the  garment  by, 

As  't  is  best  for  every  weather  ; — 

Beneath  a  bright  or  frowning  sky, 
Keep  its  blessed  folds  together  ! 

Pleasant  covering  it  will  yield  thee, 
When  joy's  sunshine  glareth  much  ; 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY.   103". 

And  in  sorrow's  storm  't  will  shield  thee 
From  its  keen  and  chilling  touch  ! 

T  is  worn  by  angel  hosts  above, 

Holy  radiance  to  it  given  ; 
And,  dipp'd  in  the  pure  fount  of  love, 

Thou  shalt  wear  it  still  in  heaven ! 


FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

•'  For  the  earnest  expectation  of  the  creature  waiteth  for  the 
manifestations  of  the  sons  of  God." — [Rom.  viii:  19.]  Epistle  for 
the  day. 

Lord,  our  spirits  pant  to  meet  thee 

In  thy  blessed  home  above  ; 
Mid  thy  angel  hosts  to  greet  thee, 

And  be  bathed  in  bliss  and  love  ! 
Oh  may  all  our  ardent  longing 

Guided  to  its  true  point  be, 
Till  our  warm  hopes,  thick  and  thronging, 

Centre,  blessed  Lord,  in  thee  ! 

Sons  of  God  !  what  glorious  creatures 
We  may  yet,  through  thee,  become, 

When  our  pure  and  spirit-natures 
With  a  life  immortal  bloom. 

Help  us,  while  below  remaining, 


104         FIFTH    SUNDAY     AFTER    TRINITY 

Still  to  live  so  close  to  thee, 
As  becomes  those  who  are  gaining 
Thy  blest  childrens'  liberty  ! 


FIFTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

"When  Simon  Peter  saw  it  he  fell  down  at  Jesus'  knees,  say- 
ing, Depart  from  me,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man,  oh  Lord." — [St. 
Luke  v:  8.]     Gospel  for  the  day. 

When  on  the  sinner's  vision  first 
The  glorious  power  of  God  doth  burst, 
This  is  the  language  of  his  heart, 
"  From  one  so  sinful,  oh  depart ! " 

"  Thou  art  mighty,  holy,  just : — 
I,  a  poor  groveller  in  the  dust : 
Leave  me  in  my  vileness,  Lord, 
A  creature  sinful,  lost,  abhorr'd  !  " 

Thou  wilt  not,  Lord  of  love,  depart  ; 
Thou  wilt  not  leave  the  waken'd  heart  * 
But  o'er  it  bend  with  anxious  care, 
And  drive  off  horror,  doubt,  despair  ! 

O'er  thy  glory's  dazzling  glow 
Thou  the  soft  veil  of  love  wilt  throw, 
And  drawing  to  thy  sacred  breast, 
Bid  him  be  trustful,  calm  and  blest. 


SIXTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY.  10& 

And  thou  shalt  make  his  new-born  soul 
Like  Peter's,  full  of  love's  control ; 
And  he  shall  say  with  beating  heart, 
"  From  thee  I  '11  never,  never  part "  !  * 

Oh !  give  us  Lord  his  love  to  thee, 
Coupled  with  firmer  constancy ! 
Thy  spirit's  strength'ning  aid  impart, 
That  we  from  thee  may  ne'er  depart.. 


SIXTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY". 


[Romans  vi:]    Epistfe  for  tho  day.} 

The  planted  seed  that  seems  to  die, 

For  abounding  life  prepares, 
And  soon  shoots  up  its  fresh  stem  high, 

And  fruit  and  foliage  bears. 
The  soul  to  sin  and  self  that 's  dead, 

Its  better  life  beginning  } 
From  out  its  dark  and  dreary  bed, 

Its  way  to  the  light  is  winning. 

*  Peter  answered  and  said  unto  him,  though  all  men  shall  be 
offended  because  of  thee,  yet  will  J  never  be  offended. — rSt.  Mat 
s.ivi,33. 


106     SEVENTH    SUNDAY     AFTER    TRINITY, 

It  grows  'neath  favoring  sun  and  clew, 

And  putteth  its  blossoms  forth  ; 
It  beareth  fruit  all  ripe  and  new, 

And  scatters  it  o'er  the  earth. 
The  fruits  of  joy  and  love  and  peace, 

Are  in  larger  harvests  given  ; 
And  as  on  earth  they  never  cease, 

They  're  grafted  anew  in  heaven. 


SEVENTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

THE    BREAD    OF   LIFE. 

[St.  Mark  viii:J    Gospel  for  tho  day. 

Few  are  the  words  by  the  Saviour  spoken, 

Which  we  our  own  may  call ;  * 
Yet  that  blest  bread  to  the  nations  broken, 

Would  fill  the  souls  of  all. 
Let  feinting  hearts  in  life's  desert,  haste 

Unto  that  pleasant  spot,  f 
Where  Christ  does  stand  'mid  the  dreary  waste, 
And  breaks  the  bread  for  all  to  taste, 

And  they  shall  hunger  not ! 

*  St.  John  xxi:  25. 

t  "  Now  thero  was  much  grass  in  tho  place."  Jno.  vi:  10. 
These  words  are  part  of  the  description  of  a  previous  miracle* 
•imilar  to  the  one  described  in  the  eighth  chapter  of  St.  Mark. 


EIGHTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY.      107 

Oh  !  wondrous  word  !    that  thro'  circling  ages, 

To  every  human  heart 
That  bends  in  faith  o'er  its  living  pages, 

Doth  life  and  health  impart ! 
To  each  and  all  and  in  every  mood, 

That  human  hearts  are  placed, 
Always  their  best  and  sustaining  good, 
And  like  to  Israel's  angel-food, 

Fitted  to  everv  taste.  * 


EIGHTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

"  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel  that  they  go  forward."— 
[Ex.  xiv:  15.]— Last  Morning  Lesson. 

Forward,  Christian  !  on  thy  track  ! 
Cast  no  lingering  glances  back  !  — 
Though  before  thee  raging  waves 
Look  as  if  they  all  were  graves  :  — 
God  shall  through  the  foaming  sea 
Make  a  pathway  dry  for  thee  ! 

Forward,  Christian!  pause  not  here, 
For  the  foe  is  on  thy  rear ! 
Turn  not  to  your  bonds  again  ; 

*  "  Thou  feedest  thine  own  people  with  angels'  food,  and  didst 
send  them  from  heaven  bread  prepared  without  their  labor  :  able 
to  content  every  man's  delight,  and  agreeing  to  every  taste. — 
[Wisdom  xvi:  20.] 


108         NINTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY, 

Go,  and  "quit  yourselves  like  men  " — 
Dare  amid  the  deep  to  fly, 
To  turn  backward  is  to  die ! 

Forward,  Christian  !     Stand  not  still 

Hazarding  eternal  ill  : 

To  press  onward,  is  to  gain 

Freedom  from  a  galling  chain, 

And  to  reach  a  land  of  rest 

Where  thou  'It  be  forever  blest ! 

Resting  on  that  blessed  shore, 
All  thy  fear  and  trembling  o'er ; 
Thou  an  hymn  of  holy  praise 
Shall  to  thy  deliverer  raise, 
Whose  loud  burden  still  shall  be, 
"  God  hath  triumphed  gloriously  !  "  * 


NINTH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

••  Neither  be  ye  idolaters." — [1st  Cor.  x:  7.]— Epistle  for  the  day. 

Thou  hast  riches  —  oh  beware 
They  be  not  to  thee  a  snare  ! 
And  thou  bow  to  them  the  knee, 
With  a  dark  idolatry  ! 
Giant  idol,  'mid  a  crowd 

•  Ex.  xv:  1. 


NINTH      SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY.  109 

Shouting  forth  its  praises  loud ; 
Maddening  round  its  glittering  car, 
Which  beams  brightly  from  afar  ; 
Worshipp'd  with  so  wild  a  zeal, 
That  before  its  crushing  wheel 
Earnest  devotees  will  lie, 
And  rejoice  for  him  to  die  :  — 
Beware !     Its  dark  wheel  will  roll 
Crushingly  across  thy  soul !  * 

Pleasure's  shape  may  be  to  thee 
The  object  of  idolatry  ! 
Round  her  rich  and  glowing  form 
Keen  desire  may  wanton  warm, 
And  her  full  and  loving  eye 
Beam  resistless  witchery  ; 
On  a  soft  and  flowery  throne, 
Resting  with  a  loosen'd  zone, 
Smiling  on  the  gay  young  crowd, 
Laughing  round  her  free  and  loud, 
She  may  seem  to  thee  as  given, 
By  a  kind  indulgent  heaven  ! 
Of  her  smiles  and  lures  beware  — 
'T  is  the  painted  fiend  Despair! 

Purer  things  than  these  may  be 
Thine  objects  of  idolatry  : 
Brother,  sister,  husband,  wife  — 

Allusion  is  hero  made  to  the  Indian  idol,  Juggernaut. 
K 


110  TENTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY 

Dearer  to  thy  soul  than  life  ! 
Darling  infant,  that  doth  rest 
Like  a  rose-bud  on  thy  breast ; 
Genius  with  his  sounding  lyre, 
Eye  of  light  and  soul  of  fire  ; 
Fame  whose  clarion  moveth  thee, 
As  a  tempest  does  the  sea  ;  — 
Some  of  these  thy  heart  may  love 
Better  than  thy  God  above  ! 
Oh  forsake  these  idols  all, 
For  they  wither,  die,  and  fall. 


TENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

THE   SAVIOUR  WEEPING  OVER    JERUSALEM. 

"And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld  the  city  and  wept 
over  it,  6aying,  If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou  in  this  thy  day, 
the  things  that  belong  unto  thy  peace  !  —  but  now  are  they  hid 
from  thine  eyes." — [St.  Luke,  xix:  41,  42.] — Gospel  for  the  day. 

"Jerusalem  !    Jerusalem ! 

Thou  hast  my  prophets  slain, 
And  soon,  to  crown  thy  cup  of  guilt, 

Thy  Saviour's  blood  wilt  drain  ! 
How  have  I  hung  in  pitying  love 

Around  that  sacred  spot, 
Wishing  to  shield  and  save  her  sons, 

And  she  consented  not !  " 


ELEVENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY.   HI 

"  Behold,  your  house  is  desolate  ; 

Your  foes  are  gathering  round  ; 
Your  stately  beauty  all  shall  be 

Laid  even  with  the  ground. 
Ye  shall  not  see  me  till  I  come 

With  glory  round  me  pour'd, 
Amid  your  cries  of  "  Blest  is  he 

Who  cometh  from  the  Lord  " !  * 

Oh  sinner,  such  is  Christ  to  thee  ! 

While  thou  dost  fill  the  cup 
Of  sin  and  death,  he  pleads  and  cries, 

"  How  shall  I  give  thee  up  ?" 
But  when  that  cup  is  running  o'er, 

He  bids  thee  then  farewell, 
To  meet  thee  at  the  judgment-day  ; 

Its  horrors  who  can  tell  ? 


ELEVENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  And  the  publican  standing  afar  off  would  not  so  much  as  lift 
up  his  eyes  unto  heaven,  but  smote  upon  his  breast,  saying — 
"God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  !" — [St.  Luke  xviii:  13.]  Gos- 
pel for  the  day. 

*  The  Jews  were  displeased  at  the  multitude  because  they 
cried  "  Blessed  is  he  who  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." — 
[Mat.  xii:  9,  15.]  Our  Saviour  says  to  them,  that  when  they 
see  him  again,  they  themselves  will  adopt  the  same  language. — 
[Mat.  xxiii:  38,  39.] 


112      TWELFTH    SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY 

Almighty  and  heart-searching  God, 
I  dare  not  look  toward  thine  abode  ; 
All  my  vile  heart  dare  ask  of  thee. 
Is  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  !" 

I  know  that  in  thy  holy  sight 
My  heart  with  leprosy  is  white ; 
I  cannot  say  ought  else  to  thee, 
But  "God  be  merciful  to  me!" 


TWELFTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  If  the  ministration  of  condemnation  be  glory,  much  more 
doth  the  ministration  of  righteousness  exceed  in  glory." — [2nd 
Corin.  iii:  9.J     Epistle  for  the  day. 

'T  was  glorious  when  on  Sinai's  top 

God  gave  his  awful  law, 
And  Israel's  host  around  its  base, 

Stood  trembling  and  in  awe. 
'T  was  glorious,  too  —  the  lightning's  flash, 

The  thunder's  startling  peal, 
Which  turn'd  the  gather'd  people  pale, 

And  made  the  mountain  reel  ! 

Glorious  was  the  written  law, 

Which  God's  own  hand  did  trace  ; 


TWELFTH    SUNDAY     AFTER    TRINITY 


113 


And  glorious  was  the  dazzling  light 

That  shone  on  Moses'  face. 
That  glory  's  gone  !  Now  lone  and  bare 

The  mount  where  God  hath  spoken  ; 
The  dust  of  Moses  slumbers  —  where  ? — 

The  tablets  all  are  broken  ! 

But  the  spirit's  better  ministry 

Doth  with  the  glory  glow 
Of  mercy,  righteousness  and  grace, 

That  from  it  freely  flow. 
It  breathes  its  laws  to  human  souls 

Upon  a  tranquil  mount  ; 
And  makes  them  glorious  with  the  light 

From  love's  exhaustless  fount ! 


One  was  a  storm-cloud,  from  whose  breast 

Consuming  fires  were  leaping  ; 
The  other  was  the  sky  beyond, 

In  holy  beauty  sleeping. 
So  did  it  sleep! — the  cloud  of  wrath 

Has  faded  all  away, 
And  we  now  walk  beneath  the  light 

Of  mercy's  purer  day. 


114      THIRTEENTH   SUNDAY   AFTER  TRINITY. 

THIRTEENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  Who  is  my  neighbor  ?"—  [St.  Luke  x:  29.J   Gospel  for  the  day. 

That  man  is  my  neighbor 

Who  suffers  distress, 
Whenever  my  labor 

Can  reach  him  to  bless  : 
Whatever  may  ail  him, 

If  aid  I  can  lend, 
God  bids  me  to  hail  him 

As  brother  and  friend  [ 

Amid  the  broad  ocean 

On  green  sunny  isle, 
And,  beyond  its  commotion, 

By  Ganges  and  Nile, 
My  neighbors  are  dwelling ; 

But  wounded  they  lie, 
And  each  moment  is  telling 

What  myriads  die  ! 

Oh  up  with  thine  ointment, 

Thine  oil  and  thy  wine  ; 
By  God's  own  appointment 

They  're  neighbors  of  thine 
Oh  let  them  not  perish, 

But  haste  o'er  the  wave 
To  cheer  and  to  cherish ; 

T'  enlighten  and  save  ! 


FOURTEENTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY.       113 


FOURTEENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  For  all  flesh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as  the  flower 
of  grass.  The  grass  withered)  and  the  flower  thereof  lalleih 
away." — [1st  St.  Peter  i:  24]     Second  Evening  Lesson. 

Mortal  !  thou  away  must  pass 
Like  the  dry  and  faded  grass  ; 
Though  in  spring-time's  freshest  hour, 
Thou  must  wither  like  its  flower. 

Learn  it  from  the  falling  leaf, 
That  thy  life  must  be  but  brief; 
Heed  the  warnings  to  thee  given, 
By  all  bright  things  under  heaven. 

Thou  mayest  love  the  flowers  to  rear  ; — 
To  thy  heart  they  may  be  dear  ; 
But  though  fair  unto  thine  eye, 
Well  thou  knowest  they  must  die ! 

Dost  thou  hope  to  see  them  last 
Till  the  rolling  year  be  past  ? 
Dost  thou  think  that  they  will  prove 
Like  the  Amaranths  above? 

Treat  thyself  as  thou  dost  them  f 
As  the  flower  must  leave  its  stem, 
Even  when  it  first  doth  spring, 
*T  is  to  thee  a  passing  thing. 


116         FIFTEENTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY. 

Thou  art  like  the  fading  grass  ; 
Like  the  flower  thou  too  must  pass ; 
Live  not  as  though  were  given  thee 
Earthly  immortality ! 


FIFTEENTH   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 

GOD   PROVIDETII. 

"  Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air  :  for  they  sow  not,  neither  do 
they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns:  yet  your  heavenly  Father 
feedeth  them.'*— [St.  Mat.  vi:  26.]     Gospel  for  the  day. 

Happy  pensioner  of  heaven, 
To  whom  the  earth  is  freely  given 
By  a  gracious  God.  to  be 
An  exhaustless  granary  ! 
Never  planting,  never  reaping, 
Always  singing,  flying,  leaping, 
Free  from  care  and  free  from  sadness, 
Light-winged  type  of  gayest  gladness, 
How  doth  he  our  faith  reprove, 
And  rebuke  our  little  love  ; 
And,  as  on  glad  wing  he  glideth, 
Hear  him  singing,  "  God  provideth" ! 

Are  not  we  more  worth  than  they, 
Creatures  of  a  summer's  day  ? 
Let  us  not.  too  anxious,  borrow 


SIXTEENTH   SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY.        117 

Needless  sadness  from  the  morrow  ; 
Let  us  not  too  deeply  care 
What  we  eat,  or  drink,  or  wear : 
Seeking  first  our  God  and  heaven, 
These  things  too  shall  all  be  given. 
See  the  wanderer  of  air  ! 
He  ne'er  wants  the  best  of  fare  ; 
And5  as  on  glad  wing  he  glideth, 
Hear  him  singing  "  God  proij^eth"  ^^ 
t 

SIXTEENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  Rooted  and  grounded  in  love." — [Eph.  iii:  17.]     Epistle  for 
the  day. 

|  Lord,  before  thy  footstool  kneeling, 
I       Daring  not  to  look  above, 
]  We  deplore  our  frigid  feeling, 
\      We  confess  our  feeble  love  ! 

\  Slightly  grounded,  slowly  growing, 
Storm  without  and  worm  within  ; 
I  Quivering,  reed-like,  when  are  blowing 
Blasts  of  passion,  woe  and  sin  ; 

Let  our  roots  be  deeper  driven 

In  the  blessed  soil  of  love  ; 
That  as  strength  to  them  is  given, 

We  may  fear  no  storms  above. 


118      SEVENTEENTH    SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 


1  Give  us,  with  all  saints  in  union, 
\      Christ's  unbounded  love  to  know, 
I  Till  our  hearts  by  that  communion 
)l    With  a  kindred  love  i>'erflow  ! 


SEVENTEENTH  SUNDAY  AFTER  TRINITY. 

"  But  rejoice  inasmuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's  suffer- 
ings. "-AirtJkPeter tt|  13.]     Second  Lesson  for  Evening. 

I  Christian,  what  to  thee  is  sorrow  f 
'T  is  a  shadow  passing  by, 
Here  to-day,  and  gone  to-morrow  ; 
Lost  in  bright  eternity  • 


Let,  then,  sufferings  come  and  thicken 
Darkly  o'er  my  chasten'd  heart ; 

Let  me  with  diseases  sicken, 

And  be  pierced  by  sorrow's  dart ; 

If  with  Christ  I  be  partaker 
Of  his  sufferings  here  below  ; 

Then  I  '11  bless  my  gracious  Maker, 
Then  I  '11  glory  in  my  woe  ! 

Welcome,  then,  wild  surge  of  sadness ! 

Beat  upon  my  heart  and  prove  it ! 
Still  the  buoyant  oil  of  gladness 

Ever  floats  and  shines  above  it ! 


EIGHTEENTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY.       119 

EIGHTEENTH  SUNDAY   AFTER  TRINITY. 
david's  confession. 

"And  ©avid   said  unto  Nathan,  I  have  sinned  against  tho 
Lord."— [2nd  Sam.  xii:  10.]     First  Morning  Lesson. 

"  'T  is  true,  Oh  Prophet  of  the  Lord  ! 
That  cruel  man  am  I  ; 
And  in  God's  holy  sight  abhorr'd, 
I  ought  indeed  to  die  ! 

"  'T  was  I  who  took  that  cherished  lamb  — 
Thou  knowest  the  tale  too  well ! 
T  was  I  who  gazed  —  wretch  as  I  am  ! — 
And  longed  —  and  burned  —  and  fell. 

"  Oh,  deeply,  deeply  have  I  err'd ! 
On  God  I  did  not  call 
When  with  wild  passion's  tempest  stirr'd, 
And  he  has  let  me  fall. 

"  For  I  with  pride  was  lifted  up* 
Because  of  kingly  state  ; 
God  filled  too  full  my  fortune's  cup  ;-^ 
It  made  my  heart  elate  ! 

"  I  made  my  sovereign  will  my  law  ; 
I  did  what  liked  me  best, 
Nor  asked  with  deep  and  humble  awe 
What  was  his  high  behest. 


120      EIGHTEENTH   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 

"  Therefore  he  left  me  to  my  heart  — 
Leave  me,  my  God  !  no  more  ! 
To  show  me  that  its  every  part 
With  sin  was  spotted  o'er ! 

"  And  now,  though  slaves  around  me  spring, 
Ohedient  to  my  nod, 
And  conquer'd  kings  their  treasures  bring, 
And  kneeling,  kiss  the  rod  ! 

"  Now,  though  in  kingly  vestments  drest ; — 
(Oh  how  these  trappings  lie  !) 
I  see,  though  hailed  as  great  and  blest, 
How  vile  a  thing  am  I  ! 

"  My  regal  vestments  off  I  '11  tear  ; — 
I  '11  trample  on  my  crown  ; 
To  the  cold  earth  I  will  repair, 
And  lay  me  humbly  down. 

"  There  night  and  day  to  God  I  '11  pray, 
That  He  will  yet  forgive  ; 
That  he  will  wash  my  guilt  away, 
And  that  my  child  may  live  !' 

God  hears  the  contrite  sinner's  voice, 

But  will  not  let  him  win 
(For  then  't  would  always  be  his  choice) 

His  happiness  from  sin  ! 


NINETEENTH     SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY.    123 

Therefore  he  took  the  Chastener's  part ; 

He  struck  the  sin-born  child, 
And  the  poor  father's  conscious  heart 

Was  wrung  with  anguish  wild. 

The  sword  unto  his  household  cleaved. 
And  through  his  own  heart  ran ; 

And  David  grew,  when  thus  bereaved, 
An  humbler,  wiser  man  ! 


NINETEENTH   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 

"And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God.—  [Eph.  iv:  30.]— 
Epistle  for  the  day. 

Loving  Spirit !  from  the  heart 
Still  unwilling  to  depart ; 
Lingering  while  we  bid  thee  leave, 
May  we  thee  no  longer  grieve ! 

Crowded  by  our  passions  out  — 

Thy  voice  drown'd  in  laughter's  shout ; 

Driven  even  from  the  gate 

By  the  fiends  Remorse  and  Hate  ! 

Never  angry,  only  grieved 
For  the  heart  of  thee  bereaved  ; 
Ever  coming  back  to  see 
If  there  be  a  place  for  thee  ! 

L 


122     TWENTIETH    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

Oh  wilt  thou  the  past  forgive, 
And  with  us  return  to  live  ? 
Lovely  spirit !  wait  thou  yet 
Thy  blessed  seal  upon  us  set  ? 

Then  never  more  thy  love  I'll  pain, 
Or  thy  strivings  quench  again  ; 
Breathe  upon  my  troubled  breast  — 
Make  it  trustful,  calm,  and  blest. 


TWENTIETH    SUNDAY   AFTER    TRINITY. 

THE  MELODY  OF  THE  HEART. 

"Making  melody  in  your  heart  unto  the  Lord." — [Eph.  v. 
19.]— Epistle  for  the  day. 

There  is  a  music  soft  and  low,* 

That  comes  to  Fancy's  ear ; 
Which  cruel  hearts  may  never  know, 

But  kind  ones  hear. 

It  breathes  around  us  like  the  moan 

Drawn  from  iEolian  chords  ; 
Familiar  as  a  sister's  tone, 

A  mother's  words  ! 

*  "The  still  soft  music  of  humanity." — Wordsworth. 


TWENTIETH    SUNDAY     AFTER     TRINITY.       123 

When  human  hearts  to  suffering  given, 

In  heaven's  support  believing, 
Bear  up,  though  blighted,  wrung  and  riven  : 

There  't  is  breathing ! 

Where  mothers'  o'er  their  first  born  bend, 

And  with  the  last  long  kiss 
One  sigh  of  utter  sorrow  blend  — 

Oh  there  it  is  ! 

In  the  dim  chambers  of  disease, 
Where  love  its  lone  watch  keeps, 

Ye  hear  its  mournful  melodies  — 
The  tried  one  weeps  ! 

And  sadly  sweet  its  low  moan  comes 

From  anguished  Genius'  soul, 
Toiling  'mid  sorrow,  want  and  gloom's 
Severe  control. 

There  is  a  music  sweeter  yet 

From  human  hearts  than  this ; 
Whose  tunes  by  angel  voices  set, 

All  breathe  of  bliss  : 

The  music  of  according  love, 

Of  holy  hopes  and  joys  ; 
Whose  lute-like  breathings  swell  above 

Sin's  clashing  noise. 


\2\  TWENTY-FIRST    SUNDAY    AFTER    TRINITY. 

Less  mournful  and  more  sweet,  it  floats 

Up  to  its  place  of  birth  ; 
And  none  of  its  calm,  heavenly  notes, 
Die  here  on  earth : 

As  part  of  the  unceasing  songs 

Which  circle  round  the  throne ; 
To  heaven's  high  melodies  belongs 
Its  humbler  tone. 


TWENTY-FIRST    SUNDAY   AFTER 
TRINITY. 

"  All  is  well." — [2d  Kings,  v.  21.] — 1st  Morning  Lesson. 

Though  guilt  be  round  our  daily  path, 
And  wreak  on  innocence  its  wrath, 
And  scatter  wide  its  curses  fell, 
Yet  God  is  just,  and  "  all  is  well ! " 

Though  in  distress  and  pain  I  lie, 
Steeped  in  all  wo  and  poverty  ; 
Oppressed  with  griefs  no  tongue  may  tell, 
Yet  God  is  kind,  and  "all  is  well ! " 

Though  spurned,  neglected,  hated,  left 
Of  friends,  and  name  and  hope  bereft ; 


TWENTY -SECOND   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY.         125 

And  hopeless  woes  my  bosom  swell, 
Yet  "  God  is  love,"  and  "  all  is  well !  " 

There  's  wafted  by  the  self-same  wing 
The  luscious  honey  with  the  sting : 
In  the  dark  clouds  the  soft  showers  dwell; 
God  pities  still,  and  "  all  is  well ! " 

There  's  life  prepared  for  dying  dust, 
A  resurrection  of  the  just ; 
There  is  a  heaven  —  there  is  a  hell  — 
Be  still  my  heart,  for  "  all  is  well !  " 


TWENTY-SECOND    SUNDAY  AFTER 
TRINITY. 

THE   FRUITS  OF  RIGHTEOUSXESS   IN   THE  GARDEN  OF 
THE    LORD. 

';  Being  filled  with  the  fruits  of  righteousness."— [Phil,  i:  11.] 
—Epistle  for  the  day. 

Come  let  us  to  the  garden  go, 
And  hear  its  fair  flowers  preach  : 

For  if  we  heed  their  whispers  low, 
They  lovely  lessons  teach. 

Behold  their  bright  innumerous  hues  ! 
Their  graceful  waving  see  ; 


126         TWENTY -SECOND   SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY. 

And  mark  how  round  them  they  diffuse 
A  various  fragrancy. 

And  pausing  where  the  woodbines  wreathe 

A  little  bower  of  bliss  ; 
There  bend  thine  ear  and  hear  them  breathe 
Some  homily  like  this  : 

"  Mortal !  thou  seest  how  bright  we  are  — 
Our  maker's  be  the  praise ; 
What  various  tints  and  odors  rare, 
This  garden  all  displays. 

'•  The  same  sun  lights  us  all  and  warms  ; 
The  same  dews  on  us  fall ; 
The  self-same  soil  with  juice  informs. 
And  feeds  our  fibres  all. 

"  Mortal !  why  does  not  thy  heart. 
When  planted  with  the  word. 
Forth  into  various  graces  start  — 
The  garden  of  the  Lord  ! 

"  The  precious  seeds  are  planted  there  ; 
The  suns  and  dews  are  given  : 
Why  doth  it  not  profusely  bear 
The  fruits  and  flowers  of  heaven  1 

"  Why  see  we  only  there  and  here 
A  rale  and  stunted  flower. 


TWENTY-THIRD   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY.  127 

Lifting  its  sickly  head  in  fear, 
As  near  its  dying  hour  ? 

"  Why  are  the  fruits  so  poor  and  spare  ? 
Why  yields  the  heart  no  more  ? 
And  why  are  those  which  look  so  fair 
All  rotten  at  the  core  ? 

"  There  's  Faith,  and  Love,  and  Holiness  — 
Howr  lovely  they  would  be  ! 
There 's  Peace,  and  Joy,  and  Gentleness  : 
How  fairer  far  than  we  ! 

"  Mortal !  though  heaven  its  smiles  may  give, 
We  need  incessant  care  ; 
The  spirifs  fruit  can  only  live 
By  culture  and  by  prayer ! " 


TWENTY-THIRD   SUNDAY  AFTER 
TRINITY. 

"  We  look  for  the  Saviour  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
shall  change  our  vile  body  that  it  may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his 
glorious  body,  according  to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able  even 
to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself. — [Phil,  iii:  20,  21.] — Epistle 
for  the  day. 

Vile  though  our  crumbling  body  be, 

The  home  of  every  ill ; 
Let  no  man  dare  despise  it  !     'T  is 

The  Spirit's  temple  still : 


128  TWENTY-THIRD   SUNDAY   AFTER   TRINITY. 

And  though  its  altar  fires  be  out, 
And  passion's  wild  tumultuous  rout 

Deface  the  holy  fane, 
Yet  will  the  blessed  Spirit  come 
And  purify  it  for  its  home, 

And  hallow  it  again  ! 

Let  no  man  dare  despise  it !  vile 

Though  it  be,  by  sin  accurs'd, 
It  bask'd  'neath  God's  approving  smile, 

Made  in  his  image  first. 
A  form  like  this  the  Saviour  wore, 
A  form  like  this  the  Saviour  bore 

Up  to  the  highest,  heaven  ; 
There  saints  and  angels  round  him  sing, 
And  hail  him  as  their  Lord  and  King, 

To  whom  all  power  is  given  ! 

And  these  vile  bodies  too  shall  spring 

From  out  death's  loathsome  bed, 
And  soaring  up  on  angel  wing, 

Like  Christ's  be  fashioned. 
No  longer  vile  decaying  worms, 
But  bright  and  glorious  spirit  forms 

Free  from  disease  and  pain  ; 
Pure  as  the  souls  within  them  wrought, 
The  light-like  ministers  of  thought, 

With  Christ  they  live  and  reign. 


TWENTY-FOURTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY.  129 


TWENTY-FOURTH  SUNDAY  AFTER 
TRINITY. 

REST. 

"  There  remaineth  therefore  a  rest  to  the  p3opIe  of  God."- 
[Heb.  iv:  9.]  "  The  hope  which  is  laid  up  for  you  in  heaven:  "- 
[Col.  i:  5.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

Hast  thou  not  turned  in  some  dark  hour. 
When  wearied  heart  and  sinking  frame, 

Confessed  the  o'ermastering  fearful  power 
Of  the  dread  gloom  that  hath  no  name, 

And  asked  "  What  is  it  to  be  blest  ?" 

And  heard  Hope  answer,  "  'T  is  to  rest  ?" 

Art  thou  the  friendless  child  of  wo, 
Whose  pallid  brow  and  fragile  form 

Seem  made  to  waver  to  and  fro, 

Like  a  pale  wild  flower  in  the  storm  ? 

Then  all  thy  yearning  hopes  attest, 

That  to  be  happy  is  to  rest. 

Not  sluggish  rest,  not  senseless  sleep,, 

A  void  unfilled  by  woe  or  bliss  ; 
But  such  repose  as  angels  keep, 

Rich  with  its  keen  felicities. 
Where  all  the  depth  of  action's  zest 
Is  lent  to  all  the  calm  of  rest. 


130  TWENTY-FIFTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY. 

Rest  for  the  tired  and  stricken  soul ; 

Rest  for  the  worn  and  shatter'd  clay  ! 
Rest  by  the  banks  where  freshly  roll 

Life's  gladsome  waters  far  away, 
Through  vistas  green,  where,  calm  and  blest, 
The  radient  hosts  of  angels  rest. 

The  rest  of  faith  now  turned  to  sight ; 

The  rest  of  hope  fruition  made ; 
Love's  deep  repose,  so  calm,  so  bright ; 

And  rapture's  self  in  slumber  laid. 
Oh  !  are  we  not  supremely  blest, 
That  we  may  hope  for  such  a  rest  ? 


TWENTY-FIFTH    SUNDAY    AFTER 
TRINITY. 

''The  Lord  our  righteousness." — [Jer.  ixiii:  6.]     Portion  of 
scripture  appointed  for  the  Epistle. 

Oh  God  of  love  !  my  soul  doth  burn 
To  render  thee  love's  warm  return  ; 
My  full  heart's  gushing  thanks  express 
And  praise  "the  Lord  my  righteousness." 

Prostrate  in  conscious  guilt  and  fear, 
Thy  throne  I  would  not  dare  draw  near. 
Nor  tell  thee  of  my  soul's  distress, 
But  through  "  the  Lord  my  righteousness." 


TWENTY-FIFTH    SUNDAY    AFTER   TRINITY.  131 

Safely  beneath  that  shield  I  dwell, 
Nor  fear  the  wrath  of  heaven  or  hell, 
But  close  within  the  shelter  press 
Of  him  who  is  "  my  righteousness." 

Now,  like  an  erring,  trustful  child, 
I  haste  to  tell  my  wanderings  wild, 
And,  pardoned,  share  his  warm  caress, 
Who  is  "  the  Lord  my  righteousness." 

He  points  me  to  the  narrow  way, 
He  guides  me  when  my  footsteps  stray ; — 
Oh  !  I  should  be  than  nothing  less 
Without  "  the  Lord  my  righteousness." 

My  soul's  salvation  's  all  from  him  : 
He  guides  me  through  life's  labyrinths  dim, 
Then  clothes  me  in  my  marriage  dress, 
And  makes  his  own  "  my  righteousness  !" 

Then  rise,  my  soul,  on  rapture's  wing, 
And  grateful  love's  loud  anthem  sing, 
Oh  fear  not  gratitude's  excess, 
But  shout  "  The  Lord  3iy  righteousness." 

Oh,  let  the  soul's  powers  all  unite 

To  praise  him  —  praise  him  in  the  height ! 

Oh,  let  my  heart  forever  bless 

"  The  Lord — the  Lord  my  righteousness  !" 


J32  THE    CONVERSION    OF   ST.    PAUL. 

THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.   PAUL. 

JANUARY  25TH. 

St.  Paul,  originally  called  Saul,  was  a  native 
of  Tarsus,  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  by  sect  a 
Pharisee.  He  was  a  Roman  citizen,*  because  the 
Emperor  Augustus  had  given  the  freedom  of  Rome 
to  the  freemen  of  Tarsus  in  consequence  of  their 
firm  adherance  to  his  interests.  He  was  sent  to 
Jerusalem,  where  he  studied  the  law  at  the  feet  of 
the  eminent  Gamaliel. f  He  was  by  trade  a  tent- 
maker  ;  agreeably  to  the  custom  of  the  Jews,  who 
considered  it  a  disgrace  not  to  bring  up  their  child- 
ren to  some  useful  trade,  both  as  security  against 
idleness  and  a  resource  against  poverty.  He  was 
very  zealous  for  the  strict  observation  of  the  law  of 
Moses.  When  the  proto- martyr,  St.  Stephen,  was 
stoned,  Saul  was  not  only  "consenting  to  his  death," 
but  he  even  stood  by  and  took  care  of  the  clothes  of 
those  who  stoned  him. J  During  the  persecution 
which  followed  the  death  of  St.  Stephen,  he  was 
one  of  the  most  violent  persecutors  of  our  Lord's 
disciples.  It  wa9  while  he  was  on  his  way  to  Da- 
mascus, charged  with  power  from  the  High  Priest 
to  bring  all  the  Christians,  whom  he  might  find. 

11  Acts  ixii:  27.  +  Acta  xiii:  3.  t  Acts  vii:  58,  59. 


THE     CONVERSION     OF     ST.     PALL.  J3'i 

bound  to  Jerusalem,  that  the  memorable  conversion 
which  this  festival  commemorates,  occurred.* 

The  conversion  of  St.  Paul  is  commemorated, 
rather  than  his  death,  because  it  was  so  wonderful 
in  itself,  and  so  highly  beneficial  to  the  church  of 
Christ.  Although  he  was  not  of  the  number  of  the 
twelve,  yet  for  his  extraordinary  eminence  in  the 
ministry,  he  was  called  an  Apostle  ;  and  while 
others  had  but  the  charge  of  particular  provinces, 
he  had  the  "  care  of  all  the  churches." 

With  flashing  eye  and  mein  elate, 

The  Jewish  bigot  came, 
Breathing  out  slaughter,  threatenings,  hate, 

Against  the  Christian  name. 
Within  his  heart  wild  vengeance  feeds 

Upon  the  Christian's  woe  ; 
Already  there  the  victim  bleeds, 

And  there  the  faggots  glow. 

But  suddenly  a  dazzling  blaze 

Gushes  across  his  path, 
With  light  far  keener  than  the  day's  — 

Is  it  in  love  or  wrath  ? 
In  wrath  —  his  conscious  heart  might  deem, 

Beneath  fear's  wild  control, 

*  Acts  ii. 


134  THE     CONVERSION     OF    ST.   PAUL. 

And  all  the  rays  around  him,  seem 
Like  arrows  for  his  soul. 

But  as  he  lay  upon  the  ground 

A  voice  stole  on  his  car, 
So  full  of  love's  reproachful  sound, 

It  banished  every  fear. 
It  bowed  and  touched  that  proud  one's  heart  : 

He  heard  and  felt  the  call ; 
And  he  who  played  the  bigot's  part 

Became  the  holy  Paul. 

So  o'er  the  haughty  sinner's  way, 

As  on  he  rides  elate, 
Yielding  to  passion's  angry  sway  — 

Pride,  bitterness,  and  hate  — 
Oft  times  God's  holiness  and  power 

With  vivid  light  appear, 
And  make  his  guilty  spirit  cower 

'Neath  wild  remorseful  fear. 

Blinded  and  awed  he  prostrate  falls. 

Expecting  wrath  alone  ; 
But  oh !  the  blessed  Jesus  calls 

In  mercy's  sweetest  tone. 
Though  darkly  he  be  led  awhile, 

Soon  does  his  blindness  cease  — 
His  heart  rests  'neath  the  spirit's  smile, 

And  all  is  love  and  peace. 


THE  PRESENTATION  OF  CHRIST  IN  THE  TEMPLE.       135 


THE    PRESENTATION   OF    CHRIST 
IN    THE    TEMPLE. 

February  2. 

The  Church  this  day  celebrates  the  presenta- 
tion of  Christ  in  the  Temple,  commonly  called 
the  Purification  of  St.  Mary  the  virgin. 

By  the  Jewish  law  of  purification,  all  the  wo- 
men were  obliged  to  separate  themselves  from  the 
congregation  forty  days  after  the  birth  of  a  male 
child,  and  eighty  days  after  the  birth  of  a  female. 
When  the  days  of  their  purifying  were  fulfilled,  if 
they  were  rich  they  brought  a  lamb  of  the  first 
year  for  a  burnt  offering,  and  a  young  pigeon  or  a 
turtle  dove  for  a  sin  offering.  If  they  were  poor, 
they  brought  two  turtle  doves  or  two  young  pigeons 
for  an  offering.  *  Joseph  and  Mary  presented  the 
offering  of  tl,e  poor. 

Surely  the  angels  came  and  looked, 

And  on  each  other  smiled, 
To  see  within  the  temple  walls 

That  mother  and  her  child. 

They  knew  that  in  that  infant  face, 
E'er  long  there  would  be  pour'd 


Lev.  sii:  8. 


136  ST.    MATTHIAS    THE     APOSTLE. 

The  full  divinity  and  power 
Of  their  Almighty  Lord. 

Meek  mother !  with  thine  offering  meet, 
Thy  child  to  God  is  given ; 

Thou  dost  not  dream  that  thy  poor  rite 
Arrests  the  gaze  of  heaven. 

Meek  mother !  how  the  fond  heart  loves 

Hither  to  turn  and  see 
Joseph  and  thee  —  the  child  —  the  doves 

A  group  of  purity  ! 

As  thou  didst  bear  him  in  thy  arms, 

He  'II  bear  thee  up  in  his  : 
Pleading  his  sacrifice  and  death, 

He  will  secure  thy  bliss. 


ST.  MATTHIAS    THE    APOSTLE. 

February  24. 

St.  Matthias  was  not  among  the  Apostles  first 
chosen  ;  but  when  the  traitor  Judas,  stricken  with 
remorse,  killed  himself,  Matthias  was  chosen  in 
his  place.*  He  was  probably  one  of  the  seventy. 
According  to  St.  Jerome,  he  first  devoted  his  min- 

*  Acts  i. 


ST.    MATTHIAS   THE    APOSTLE.  137 

istcrial  labor  to  Judea,  and  afterwards  travelled  to 
the  countries  eastward  ;  where,  after  much  suffer- 
ing  and  many  labors,  he  won  the  crown  of  martyr. 
dom. 

The  Epistle  records  the  fall   of  Judas  and  the 
election  of  Matthias. 

Lord,  guard  thy  holy  spouse,  the  Church, 

From  every  taint  of  sin  ; 
Nor  let  a  traitor  Judas  come 

Her  altar  rails  within  ! 

Give  to  thy  ministering  servants  zeal 
To  spend  for  thee  their  breath ; 

And,  like  Matthias,  take  their  cross 
And  follow  thee  to  death. 

Oh  give  to  them  thine  ardent  love  — 

Thy  patience  meek  and  mild  ; 
Thy  faith  triumphant  o'er  the  pangs 

Of  anguish  keen  and  wild. 

Give  them,  like  thee,  apart  to  kneel 

Upon  the  mount  of  prayer, 
And  so  come  strengthened  in  the  world 

To  labor  and  to  bear  ! 


138  THE     ANNUNCIATION. 

THE    ANNUNCIATION. 

March  25. 

By  "  the  Annunciation  of  the  blessed  Virgin 
Mary"  is  meant  the  declaration  which  the  angel 
Gabriel  made  to  Mary,  that  she  should  become, 
by  the  overshadowing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  mo- 
ther of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.*  This  is  the 
event  which  the  Church  this  day  commemorates. 

"  Hail,  Mary"!  thus  an  angel  spake  — 
And  shall  not  mortals  raise, 
To  her  whom  heaven  thus  highly  blest, 
Adoring  prayer  and  praise  ? 

Blest  mother  !   shall  we  offer  thee 

Our  warm  but  human  love  ? 
Or  shall  we  hail  thee  as  we  hail 

The  Omnipotent  above  ? 

"  Oh  no  !  "  methinks  I  hear  thee  now, 
With  hands  across  thy  breast, 
In  lowly  loveliness  exclaim, 
"  Call  me  of  women  blest !  " 

Mother  blest !  we  give  not  thee 
Prayers  which  are  God's  alone  ; 

*  St.  Luke  i:  26. 


ST.    mark's    day.  139 

For  though  in  heaven,  thou  canst  but  sit 
Near  and  not  on  the  throne. 

But  we  will  throw  around  thee  still 

Rich  loveliness  and  grace  ; 
And  bear  forever  on  our  hearts 

Thy  meek  and  angel  face  ! 


ST.    MARK'S    DAY. 
April  25. 

St.  Makk,  though  bearing  a  Roman  name,  was 
born  of  Jewish  parents,  originally  descended  of  the 
tribe  of  Levi.  He  was  probably  converted  by  St. 
Peter,  whose  companion  he  was  in  all  his  travels, 
supplying  the  place  of  an  amanuensis,  or  interpre- 
ter. As  Christian  assemblies  in  those  days  were 
made  up  of  men  of  different  nations,  when  the 
apostle  addressed  them  in  a  language  intelligible  to 
the  larger  number,  it  was  necessary  that  some  one 
should  interpret  what  was  said  to  others  who  could 
not  otherwise  understand  it. 

St.  Mark  was  sent  by  St.  Peter  into  Egypt  to 
Alexandria,  where  his  ministry  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. Afterwards  he  went  to  Lybia  and  other 
countries,  the  barbarous  inhabitants  of  which  he 
converted  to  the   Christian  faith  by  his  preaching 


140  ST.    mark's    day. 

and  miracles.  On  his  return  to  Alexandria,  he 
organized  the  Church  by  appointing  its  officers  and 
governors. 

While  St.  Mark  was  celebrating  divine  service 
at  the  festival  of  Easter,  he  was  seized  by  the  peo- 
ple, who  were  enraged  at  his  opposition  to  their 
idolatry  and  dragged  through  the  streets  on  the 
ground  to  prison.  Early  the  next  morning  they 
came  again,  and  so  tore  off  his  flesh  by  dragging 
him  on  the  ground,  that  he  expired. 

"  As  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself  except  it  abide  in 
the  vine  ;  no  more  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me." — [Jno.  f£  4.] — 
Jor  the  day.  XV 

You  may  bind  a  branch  to  the  living  tree  — 

You  may  tie  it  fast  and  strong  ; 
And  though  the  roots  well  watered  be, 

Yet  the  branch  will  fade  ere  long. 
It  draws  no  sap  from  the  feeding  root  — 

It  heeds  not  the  breath  of  spring  — 
Its  leaves  bud  not,  and  it  bears  no  fruit : 

'T  is  a  dead  and  worthless  thing  ! 

It  needs  to  be  grafted  on  and  in, 

To  open  its  secret  pores  ; 
And  lay  them  close  'neath  the  bark,  to  win 

Of  the  circling  juices'  stores. 
Then  it  will  live  with  the  parent  tree,. 

And  its  leaves  inhale  the  air, 


ST.    marks'    day.  HI 

And  covered  in  spring  with  blossoms  be, 
And  fruits  in  the  autumn  bear  ! 

And  so  may  a  man  unto  Christ  be  joined, 

Who  abideth  not  in  him 
By  communion  sweet  of  the  heart  and  mind, 

Just  like  the  withered  limb  ; 
For  fast  though  he  be  to  the  body  tied, 

And  unto  the  church  doth  cling : 
Yet  because  he  doth  not  in  Christ  abide, 

He  's  a  dead  and  worthless  thing  ! 

Oh  the  heart  must  close  to  the  Saviour  lay, 

And  open  its  every  pore  ; 
That  his  living  grace  may  come  and  stray 

Its  minutest  windings  o'er. 
Thus  joined  to  the  true  and  the  living  vine  — 

In  fellowship  fall  and  free  — 
The  branch  shall  bloom  with  fruit  divine, 

And  never  shall  withered  be  ! 


142  8T.     PHILIP    AND     ST.    JAMES'    DAY. 


ST.  PHILIP  AND  ST.  JAMES'  DAY. 
May  1. 

St.  Piiilip  the  Apostle  was  a  native  of  Beth- 
saida  *  He  was  the  first  who  was  called  to  be  a 
disciple  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  and  was  his  con- 
stant follower  and  companion.  He  introduced  Na- 
thaniel,! a  person  of  great  eminence,  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Messiah.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
suffered  martyrdom  in  Hierapolis,  a  city  of  Phyrgia. 

St.  James,  the  less,  surnamed  the  brother  of  our 
Lord,  was  the  son  of  Cieopas,  otherwise  Alpheus, 
and  Mary,  sister  of  the  blessed  virgin  :  conse- 
quently he  was  cousin-german  to  Jesus  Christ. 
He  was  called  the  less,  either  in  reference  to  his 
stature  or  his  age,  to  distinguish  him  from  James 
the  greater,  the  son  of  Zebedee.  He  was  also  sur- 
named the  Just,  from  the  admirable  holiness  and 
purity  of  his  life.  He  was  chosen  the  Bishop  of 
Jerusalem,  and  was  particularly  active  at  the  coun- 
cil of  Jerusalem  in  the  controversy  concerning  the 
obligations  of  the  Jewish  ceremonials  ;  for  though 
the  case  was  opened  by  St.  Peter,  and  discussed  by 
St.  Paul,  yet  the  final  decree  was  pronounced  by 
St.  James. J 

The  scribes  and  Pharisees,   headed  by  Ananias, 

*  Jno.  i:  45.  t  Jno.  i:  45.  $  Acts  xv. 


ST.     PHILIP     AND    ST .    J  A  M  E  8 '     DAY.  143 

the  .son  of  Annas,  the  high  priest,  threw  him  down 
from  a  gallery  of  the  temple,  whence  he  was  ad- 
dressing the  people  on  the  Feast  of  the  Passover. 
He  was  not  immediately  killed  by  the  fall,  but  reco- 
vered sufficient  strength  to  get  upon  his  knees  and 
implore  the  divine  mercy  for  his  murderous  perse- 
cutors. While  he  was  there  praying  for  them,  they 
loaded  him  with  a  shower  of  stones,  and  at  last 
beat  out  his  brains. 

"  Knowing  this  that  the  trial  of  your  faith  worketh  palience  ; 
but  let  patience  have  her  perfect  work,  that  ye  may  be  perfect 
and  entire,  wanting  nothing."— [James  i:  3,  4.]— Epistle  for  the 
day. 

So  spake  the  humble  James  the  Just  — 

Fit  kinsman  of  the  Lord ; 
Whose  holy  life  displayed  the  trust 

So  sweetly  shown  in  word. 

It  seems  like  loving  message  sent, 

A  brother's  heart  to  cheer, 
'Neath  doubt  and  sorrow's  burden  bent, 

And  tremulous  with  fear. 

A  kind  rebuke,  like  Christ's,  it  seems 

T'  impatient  Philip  given  ; 
Who  sought  the  fountain  in  the  streams, 

And  looked  on  earth  for  heaven.* 

*  Philip  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  show  us  the  Father  and  it  suf- 
ficeth  us.— [St.  John  xiv:  9.] 


lM  ST.     PHILIP     AND     3  T  .    JAMES5     DAY. 

And  in  them  both,  meek  patience  wrought 

Her  full  and  perfect  work  ; 
So  that  no  doubt's  disturbing  thought 

Could  in  their  spirit's  lurk. 

Patiently  they  toiled  and  prayed  — 

In  patience  up  and  down 
Through  scoffing  multitudes  they  strayed, 

And  won  their  martyr  crown. 

Patience!  lovliest  plant  that  springs 

Out  of  the  heart  renew'd  ; 
Strongest  when  the  tempest's  wings 

Flap  round  it  wild  and  rude  : 

Faith  is  thy  deep  and  clinging  root  — 

Hope  is  thy  hardy  flower ; 
And  Love  thy  rich  perennial  fruit  — 

A  fair  and  fragrant  dower  ! 

The  root  whose  plant  is  patience  here, 
Shall,  when  from  earth  't  is  riven, 

Transplanted  to  a  brighter  sphere, 
Yield  perfect  bliss  in  heaven  ! 


ST.     BARNABAS.  145 

ST.    BARNABAS. 

Ju>TE   11. 

St.  Barnabas  was  a  native  of  the  isle  of  Cy- 
prus, and  was  descended  of  the  tribe  of  Levi.*  His 
parents  were  rich  and  pious  and  sent  him  to  Jeru- 
salem, where  he  was  brought  up  with  Paul  at  the 
feet  of  Gamaliel.  Five  years  afterwards  the  church 
of  Jerusalem  sent  him  to  Antioch,  where  he  beheld 
the  wonders  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  exhorted  the 
faithful  to  perseverance. f  Some  time  afterwards 
he  went  to  Tarsus  to  seek  Paul  and  bring  him  to 
Antioch,  where  they  dwelt  together  two  years  and 
converted  great  numbers  ;  and  here  the  disciples 
were  first  called  Christians.^:  They  carried  a  cha- 
ritable supply  from  the  Christians  of  Antioch  to 
relieve  the  brethren  of  Judea,  who  were  reduced 
to  necessity  by  a  famine. §  They  were  afterward 
set  apart  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles.  Af- 
ter three  years'  absence  they  returned  to  Antioch. 
Having  proposed  to  visit  the  churches  which  they 
had  planted  in  Asia,  St.  Paul  refused  to  take  Mark, 
the  kinsman  of  Barnabas,  along  with  them,  because 
in  their  former  travels  he  had  left  them  at  Pamphy- 
lia.  The  contention  was  so  sharp  between  them 
that  they  parted.     St.  Paul,  with  Silas,  went  to  the 

*  Acts  iv:  36.     t  Acts  xi:  22,  23.      t  Acts  xi:  26.     $  Acts  ix:  30. 
N 


146  ST.    BARNABAS. 

churches  of  Syria  and  Cilicia  ;  and  St.  Barnabas, 
with  Mark,  to  Cyprus  his  own  country.*  It  is 
uncertain  what  became  of  him  after  he  separated 
from  St.  Paul  and  went  to  Cyprus.  It  is  supposed 
that  he  suffered  Martyrdom  at  Salamis,  where  it  is 
said  he  was  stoned  by  the  Jews. 

"  For  he  was  a  good  man  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of 
faith;  and  much  people  were  added  unto  the  Lord." — [Acts 
ix:  24  ]    Portion  of  scripture  appropriated  for  the  Epistle. 

We  know  that  thou  canst  work,  oh  Lord, 

By  evil  or  by  good  ; 
And  wing  with  power  thy  word,  proclaim'd 

By  wicked  lips  or  rude. 

Yet  dost  thou  touch  with  hallow'd  fire 

The  lips  that  speak  thy  word  ; 
And  bid  them  to  be  clean  who  bear 
The  vessels  of  the  Lord. 

And  still,  as  on  this  sacred  page, 

These  close-linked  truths  we  find, 

That  where  the  good  man  is,  most  souls 
Unto  the  Lord  are  joined. 

Oh  make  thy  ministering  servants,  Lord, 

This  solemn  truth  to  feel ; 
That  they  may  seek  by  fervent  prayer 

More  love,  more  faith,  more  zeal ! 

*  Acta  xv:  39. 


ST.     JOHN     BAPTIST'S    DAY.  147 


ST.  JOHN    BAPTIST'S    DAY. 

The  birth  of  John  Baptist  was  foretold  by  an  an- 
gel when  his  mother  Elizabeth  was  barren  and  both 
his  parents  "  well  stricken  in  years."  His  birth 
was  the  occasion  of  great  joy  to  all  who  expected 
the  Messiah,  of  whom  he  was  the  forerunner. 

His  whole  ministry  tended  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  reception  of  our  Saviour  and  his  doctrines, 
and  he  proved  himself  truly  what  he  was  styled  by 
Malachi,  the  "  Messenger  that  was  to  prepare  the 
way  of  the  Lord." 

'T  was  like  a  trumpet's  rousing  note, 

When  through  the  desert  sent 
The  Baptist's  warning  cry  was  still 

"Repent!  repent!  repent!" 

His  was  no  mild  and  gentle  task  ; 

He  came  to  clear  the  path  ; 
Rude  in  his  garb  and  life,  he  spake 

The  startling  words  of  wrath. 

Against  the  Pharisees  he  hurled 

Commissioned  bolts  of  ire, 
And  told  them  of  the  wrath  to  come, 

And  the  undying  fire. 


M3  st.  peter's    day. 

In  his  deep  tones  were  heard  the  last, 

Long  echoes  of  the  law, 
Whose  thunder  peals  from  Sinai's  top 

Filled  Israel's  host  with  awe. 

Thus  sweeter  seemed  the  contrast,  when 
Those  stern,  harsh  notes  were  hushed, 

And  forth  the  Gospel's  cheering  tones 
In  silvery  music  gushed  ! 


ST.    PETER'S    DAY. 
June  29. 

St.  Peter  was  born  in  Bethsaida,  a  city  of  Gal- 
lilee.  His  father  Jonah  was  a  fisherman,  and  An- 
drew, the  first  disciple  of  the  Lord,  his  brother. 
St.  Peter's  name  was  originally  Simon  or  Simeon, 
but  was  changed  by  Christ  unto  that  of  Cephas, 
which  in  the  Syrian  language  signifies  a  stone  or 
rock  *  :  from  this  is  derived  the  word  Peter,  which 
in  the  Greek  has  the  same  signification. 

St.  Peter  was  an  eminent  and  fervent  disciple 
of  the  Lord.  His  warm  and  impetuous  temper  is 
seen  in  all  his  history,  and  particularly  in  his  zeal- 
ous  professions  to  his  Master,  that  though  all  others 
should  forsake,  he  would  never  forsake  or  deny  him. 

*  St.  John  i:  42,  43. 


149 


At  the  first  preaching  of  St.  Peter  after  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  three  thousand  souls 
were  converted.*  His  first  mission  was  to  Sama- 
ria, where  he  was  sent  out  to  confirm  those  whom 
Philip  the  Deacon  had  converted,  and  to  communi- 
cate to  them  by  prayer  and  the  imposition  of  hands 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Soon  after,  his  national  prejudi- 
ces were  removed  by  a  special  vision,  and  he 
became  convinced  that  God  was  no  "  respecter  of 
persons."  The  rest  of  his  life  was  zealously  devo- 
ted to  the  service  of  his  master. 

St.  Peter  suffered  martyrdom  about  the  year  sixty- 
nine,  under  Nero.  The  manner  of  his  death  was 
by  crucifixion  with  his  head  downwards. 

ST.   PETER  IN  PRISON. 

Acts  12.    Portion  of  scripture  appointed  for  the  Epistle  for 
the  day. 

They  chained  him  down  and  a  watch  they  set, 

And  close  at  his  side  they  kept ; 
And  their  armor  gleamed  in  his  eyes,  and  yet 

The  wearied  Apostle  slept. 
His  heart  was  calm,  for  he  knew  beneath 

Was  the  everlasting  arm  ; 
And  though  they  might  put  the  body  to  death, 

They  could  do  the  soul  no  harm. 

*  Acts  ii:  41 . 

N* 


150  ST.     JAMES     THE    APOSTLE. 

But  lo  !   a  sudden  and  brilliant  light 

Is  flashing  across  the  gloom  ; 
And  as  on  its  wings  an  angel  bright 

Comes  floating  within  the  room, 
He  smites  the  sleeper  upon  his  side, 

And  bids  him  arise  and  flee  ; 
And  on  thro'  the  guards  and  wards  they  glide, 

And  Peter  's  alone  and  free  ! 

Oh  many  a  cbained-down  spirit  sleeps 

In  the  prison  house  of  sin, 
And  the  foe  keen  guard  and  vigil  keeps, 

And  strives  to  retain  him  in ; 
But  if  God  will  send  his  spirit's  power, 

Then  off  his  chains  will  drop, 
And  the  baffled  guard  shall  shrink  and  cower. 

And  none  shall  his  progress  stop. 


ST.    JAMES    THE    APOSTLE. 

July  25. 

St.  James,  surnamed  Major,  the  elder  or  the 
greater,  to  distinguish  him  from  James  the  less,  was 
brother  to  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  and  son  of  Ze- 
bedee  and  Salome.*     He  was  of  Bethsaida  of  Gal- 

*  Mat.  iv:  21. 


ST.    JAMES    THE     APOSTLE.  15T 

lilee,  and  left  his  property  to  follow  Christ.  Our 
Saviour  surnamed  St.  James  and  St.  John,  Boaner- 
ges, sons  of  thunder,  probably  in  reference  to  their 
impressive  preaching.  Their  mother,  perhaps  at 
the  instance  of  her  sons,  who  at  the  time  errone- 
ously supposed  that  their  master  was  to  be  a  tern- 
poral  prince,  requested  that  her  two  sons  might  sit 
the  one  on  his  right  hand  and  the  other  on  his  left 
in  his  kingdom. 

The  martyrdom  of  St.  James  is  related  in  Acts 
ii:  12. 

"  Then  came  to  him  the  mother  of  Zebedee's  children,  with 
her  sons,  worshipping  him  and  desiring  a  certain  thing  of  him. 
And  he  said  unto  her,  What  wilt  thou  ?  She  saith  unto  him, 
Grant  that  these  my  two  sons  may  sit,  the  one  on  thy  right  hand 
and  the  other  on  thy  left  in  thy  kingdom.  But  Jesus  answered 
and  said,  Ye  know  not  what  ye  ask."— [St.  Mat.  xx.  20,  21,  22.1 

A  better  lesson  thou  didst  learn, 

Apostle  meek  and  great, 
Than  for  an  earthly  boon  to  burn, 

For  pomp  and  power  and  state. 
Thou  learnedst  thy  Saviour's  cup  to  drink* 

His  baptism  to  share ; 
And  didst  not  from  the  trial  shrink, 

Though  terrible  to  bear  ! 

Thy  aim  was  glory  still  —  but  such 
As  the  blest  ones  await, 


152  ST.     BARTHOLOMEW. 

Whose  souls  humility's  mild  touch 

Fits  to  bo  truly  great. 
It  was  when  stooping  humbly  down, 

That  angels  caught  thee  up, 
And  placed  upon  thy  head  the  crown, 

When  draining  sorrow's  cup. 

Oh  every  wo  that  wrings  the  heart 

With  anguish  and  with  gloom, 
Doth  unto  faith's  weak  wing  impart 

A  strong  and  lovely  plume ; 
And  he  who  in  the  vile  dust  sits, 

Whom  all  that  pass  contemn, 
While  there  but  polishes  and  fits 

Jewels  for  his  diadem  ! 


ST.    BARTHOLOMEW. 

June   24. 

The  evangelical  history  takes  very  little  notice 
of  this  Apostle  beyond  the  mention  of  his  name. 
It  is  thought  that  he  is  the  person  called  Nathaniel. 
It  is  generally  believed  that  he  preached  the  gospel 
in  the  Indies,  and  that  he  carried  thither  the  gos- 
pel of  St.  Matthew,  which,  as  Eusebius  testifies, 
was  reported  by  tradition  to  have  been  left  by  him. 


ST.     MATTHEW.  153 

It  is  related  that  St.  Bartholomew  was  flayed  alive 
by  the  Governor  of  Armenia,  for  endeavoring  to 
reclaim  the  people  from  idolatry,  and  that  he  was 
crucified  with  his  head  downwards. 

"  And  Jesu3  saw  Nathaniel    coming  to  him  and  saith  of  him 
Behold  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile." — [St.  John  i:  47. 

Not  as  the  chosen  child  of  fame 

Dost  thou  our  love  engage, 
For  seldom  is  thy  humble  name 

Seen  on  the  sacred  page. 
And  those  there  are  unknown  —  obscure, 

But  to  the  Saviour  dear, 
Because  their  humble  hearts  are  pure, 

Ingenuous  and  clear. 
Better  than  all  which  fame  imparts, 

If  Jesus  will  but  smile  ; 
And  say  of  our  poor  erring  hearts, 

That  they  are  free  from  guile. 


ST.    MATTHEW. 

September  21. 

St.  Matthew,  an  Apostle  and  Evangelist,  was 
a  Gallilean  by  birth,  a  Jew  by  religion,  and  a  publi- 
can by  profession.*  His  occupation,  which  was 
originally  considered  honorable,  had  become  odious 

*  St.  Luke  v:  27. 


154  ST.    MATTHEW. 

from  the  extortions  practised  by  those  who  held  it. 
His  ordinary  residence  was  Capernaum,  and  his 
occupation  at  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  which  was  near. 
He  was  there  when  called  by  Jesus  Christ  to  fol- 
low him.  He  immediately  left  his  gainful  employ- 
ment for  the  service  of  the  humble  Saviour. 

St.  Matthew  continued  with  the  rest  of  the  Sa- 
viour's disciples  until  his  Ascension,  and  then  for 
about  eight  years  he  preached  in  Judea.  After- 
wards he  travelled  into  Parthia  and  Ethiopia,  where 
he  converted  multitudes  to  Christianity.  It  is  most 
probable  that  he  suffered  martyrdom  in  Ethiopia, 
though  the  manner  of  his  death  is  unknown. 

COLLECT  FOR  THE  DAY. 

Almighty  God,  who  by  thy  Son 

Didst  Matthew  from  his  treasure  call, 

To  be  thy  meek  evangelist, 

And  leave  his  worldly  prospects  all. 

Oh  give  us  also  grace  to  leave 

All  vile  and  covetous  desires, 
That  we  may  quench  within  our  hearts 

The  lust  of  wealth's  consuming  fires. 

Oh  give  to  us  thy  heavenly  grace, 
True  followers  of  thy  Son  to  be, 

Who  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  one  God, 
Forever  lives  and  reigns  with  thee. 


ST.     MICHAEL    AND   ALL    ANGELS.  155 

ST.    MICHAEL    AND  ALL    ANGELS. 

September  29. 

The  scriptures  inform  us  that  St.  Michael  was 
an  arch-angel,  who  presided  over  the  Jewish  na- 
tion*; that  he  had  an  army  of  angels  under  his 
command,  with  whom  he  fought  with  Satan  and  his 
angels,-)-  and  that  contending  with  Satan  he  dis- 
puted about  the  body  of  Moses.  :£ 

"  There  was  war  in  Heaven  :  Michael  and  his  angels  fought 
against  the  dragon  ;  and  the  dragon  fought  and  his  angels,  and 
prevailed  not." — [Rev.  xii:  7,,8.]     Epistle  for  the  day. 

"  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones  ;  for 
1  say  unto  you  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  always  behold  the 
face  of  my  father  which  is  in  heaven." — [St.  Mat.  xviii:  10.] 
Gospel  for  the  day. 

Great  leader  of  the  hosts  of  heaven  ! 

Who  standest  near  the  throne  on  high, 
By  thee  the  rebel  crew  were  driven 

In  "  hideous  ruin"  from  the  sky. 

The  Church  on  earth  shall  shout  aloud, 
Responsive  to  the  Church  above,. 
"  Rebellion's  haughty  head  is  bow'd 

And  conquer'd  by  redeeming  love  !  "  § 

*  Dan.  x:  13.  t  Rev.  xii:  7. 

X  Jude  ix.  §  Rev.  xii:  11. 


156  ST.    MICHAEL     AND    ALL     ANGELS. 

And  brightly  glorious  are  the  ranks 

That  with  thee  round  the  God-head  press, 

Ascribing  unto  him  all  thanks. 
Praise,  Majesty,  Almightiness  ! 

Most  glorious  by  their  might  of  soul  — 
Glorious  in  mien  and  sheen  and  shape  — 

Sweet  melodies  around  them  roll, 

And  starry  robes  their  bright  forms  drape. 

It  seems  employment  meet  for  them 

Around  their  maker's  throne  to  cling  — 

Bright  jewels  in  the  diadem 
Of  their  ador'd,  Almighty  king  ! 

It  well  beseemed  their  lofty  state 

To  issue  forth  to  battle  high, 
And  crush  the  Dragon's  power  elate, 

And  hurl  him  headlong  through  the  sky.* 

But  will  they  deign  to  look  on  us, 
Poor  sons  of  sin,  and  death,  and  wo, 


Hurled  headlong  flaming  through  the  etherial  sky 
In  hideous  ruin  and  combustion.— Milton. 


ST.     MICHAEL     AND    ALL    ANGELS.  157 

And  leave  their  mansions  glorious, 
To  visit  us  vile  worms  below  1 

Oh  not  a  blessed  seraph  there. 

But  loves  to  bend  him  down,  and  see, 
And  watch,  and  guard  with  kindliest  care, 

Lost,  wandering,  weak  humanity  ! 

But  chiefly  they  encamp  around 

The  dwellings  of  the  meek  and  just  — 

Those  humble  souls,  forever  found 
Living  on  Christ  in  lowly  trust. 

Circling  about  the  faithful  heart, 
They  drive  away  assaulting  sin  ; 

And  while  themselves  calm  peace  impart, 
Admit  no  jarring  spirits  in. 

With  healing  balms  they  gently  steal" 
Within  the  heart  which  sorrow  wrings, 

And  the  hot  sufferer  can  feel 

The  fanning  of  their  soothing  wings. 

Oh  surely  ours  should  be  a  love 

Like  that  which  heavenly  bosoms  stirs, 

Since  there  are  sent  us  from  above 
Angels  for  daily  ministers  ! 


1.5S  ST.    LUKE    THE     EVANGELIST. 

ST.    LUKE    THE    EVANGELIST. 

October  18. 

St.  Luke  was  a  Syrian,  a  native  of  Antioch,  and 
by  profession  a  physician.  Some  suppose  that  it 
is  he  who  is  mentioned  in  Romans  xvi:  21.,  by  the 
name  of  Lucius  —  in  that  case  he  was  a  kinsman 
of  St.  Paul.  He  was  the  companion  of  St.  Paul 
in  several  journeys,  when  he  went  about  preaching 
the  gospel.  He  was  probably  converted  by  St. 
Paul  at  Antioch,  who  entertained  great  affection 
for  him,  calling  him  the  "beloved  physician,"  and 
the  brother  "  whose  praise  is  in  the  gospel."  He 
went  with  St.  Paul  to  Rome,  where  he  attended 
him  in  his  sickness.  His  subsequent  career  and 
the  manner  of  his  death  are  uncertain.    , 

i 

An  honor'd  name,  and  lov'd,  is  thine, 

That  God  hath  through  thee  given, 

Dripping  with  dews  of  love  divine, 

Thy  gospel  fresh  from  heaven. 

There  mercy's  sweetest  accents  fall  ; 
There  anthems  take  their  wing  ; 


ST.     SIMON     AND     ST.     JDDE.  159 

There  the  returning  prodigal 
Receives  his  robe  and  ring !  * 

And  honor'd  still  thy  name  shall  be 

For  words  so  sweetly  given  ; 
And  ransom'd  souls  shall  crowd  round  thee, 

And  bless  thee  when  in  heaven  ! 


ST.    SIMON    AND    ST.    JUDE. 

October  28. 

St.  SraoN  the  Apostle,  was  born,  as  some  sup- 
pose,  in  Cana  of  Gallilee ;  for  which  reason  they 
conclude  he  was  surnamed  the  Cananite  :  others 
derive  the  name  from  Kanah;  which  signifies  the 
Zealot.  This  appellation  was  given  him.  either  on 
account  of  his  great  zeal  for  the  Christian  faith  or 
from  a  particular  sect  among  the  Jews,  called  Zea- 
lots. St.  Simon,  after  preaching  the  gospel  in 
Egypt  and  Africa,  at  last  suffered  martyrdom. 

St.  Jude,  the  Apostle,  is  reckoned  among  the 
number  of  the  brethren  of  our  Lord,  being,  as  is 
believed,  a  son  of  Mary,  sister  of  the  Virgin,  and  a 

*lt  is  observed  by  Keble,  that  the  Christian  hymns,  the  Mag- 
nificat, Benedictus,  and  Nunc  Dirnitis,  are  ail  in  St.  Luke  ;  and 
that  his  gospel  most  abounds  in  such  passages  as  display  God's 
mercy  to  penitent'sinners.     [Keble's  Christian  Year,  p.  35=6. J 
O* 


160  ST.     SIMON     AND     ST.     JUDE. 

brother  of  James  the  less,  Bishop  of  Jerusalem. 
It  is  most  probable  that  he  preached  in  Judea,  Gal- 
lilee,  and  the  neighboring  countries,  and  at  last  suf- 
fered martyrdom  in  Persia.  St.  Jude  was  called 
also  Lebbeus  and  Thaddeus. 

"  Simon,  called  Zelotes —  (the  zealous.)" — Luke  vi:  15.   "  Leb- 
beus, whose  surname  was  Thaddeus." — Mat.  x:  3. 

Oh  warm,  devoted  men  were  ye, 

And  zealous  for  your  Lord  — 
Dispensing  wide  with  fervency, 

The  pure  life-giving  word! 

Ye  must  have  felt  what  thus  ye  preached, 

And  your  soul  kindled  darts, 
Winged  with  the  spirit's  power,  have  reached 

And  pierced  the  hearers'  hearts  ! 

Your  various  names*  the  truth  attest 
That  ye  were  filled  with  zeal  — 

Men  that  could  neither  pause  nor  rest 
Till  ye  made  others  feel. 

Fond  history  loves  the  tale  to  tell 
That  ye  together  strove  ; 

*  Zelotes,  the  zealous  ;  Lebbeus,  the  man  of  heart :  Thab- 
deus,  a  man  zealous  in  praising  God. 


ALL     SAINTS'    DAY.  I O J 

Together  bade  this  world  farewell, 
Together  rose  above.* 

As  to  your  names  together  joined 

The  Church  hath  honor  given, 
So  your  warm  hearts  we  still  may  find 

Together  linked  in  heaven  ! 


ALL    SAINTS-    DAY. 

November  21. 

The  Church  has  set  apart  a  day  for  the  com- 
memoration of  those  eminent  Christians  who  have 
fought  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  who  have  been 
remarkably  distinguished  for  their  devotion  to  God 
and  his  Church.  She  celebrates  on  this  day  the 
virtues  of  those  Saints  who  are  militant  here  on 
earth,  as  well  as  the  memories  of  the  Saints  tri- 
umphant in  heaven.  The  Church  designs  by  this 
festival  to  encourage  us  while  here  below  "  to  run 
with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us,"  seeing 
"  we  are  encompassed  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses." 

*  "There  is  a  tradition  that  they  labored  and  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom  together."— Editor's  note  to  Keble's  Chn&tian  Year,  p.35&. 


162  ALL    saints'    day. 

With  garments  crimson  from  the  strife, 

Jesus  ascends  on  high  : 
He  has  wrung  from  death  immortal  life, 

He  has  won  the  victory  ! 

His  ransomed  saints  with  shoutings  rise, 
With  him  to  live  and  reign  ; 

And  far  in  the  depths  of  the  open'd  skies 
Files  on  the  flashing  train ! 

That  countless  train  extends  beneath, 
Though  a  slight  break  is  seen  — 

Made  by  the  stream  of  dividing  death, 
With  its  billows  black  between  ! 

But  all  are  one  in  heart  and  love, 

And  on  one  Saviour  call ; 
To  the  saints  below  and  saints  above, 

Christ  Jesus  is  all  in  all. 

Then  hail  to  Him  who  from  the  strife 

In  glory  goes  on  high : 
He  hath  wrung  from  death  immortal  life- 

He  hath  won  the  victory ! 


THE     CHURCH 


/ 


I  love  her  sacred  courts  to  tread  — 
The  Church — the  Church  of  God  ; 

And  linger  with  a  solemn  awe 
Where  martyr  steps  have  trod. 

Around  her  old  and  hoary  towers, 

Defying  time's  corroding  powers, 

I  seem  a  glorious  light  to  trace  — 

Like  that  which  gleamed  from  Moses'  face  — 

And  hear  amid  its  arches  dim 

The  low-breathed  praise  of  Seraphim. 

I  love  her,  for  that  Christ  himself 

Hath  laid  her  corner  stone  — 
Apostles,  prophets,  holy  men, 

Have  builded  thereupon. 
That  when  o'er  earth  corruption  walked, 
And  Sin  and  Death  —  grim  tyrants  —  stalked. 


164  THE     CHURCH. 

And  waitings,  curses,  crimes  and  wo 
Prefigured  Hell's  domain  below  ; 
Within  her  peaceful  walls  were  given 
A  type  and  antepast  of  heaven. 

I  love  her,  for  that  holy  hearts 

Were  in  her  service  spent, 
And  the  high  powers  of  intellect 

To  do  her  honor  bent. 
For  all  who  in  her  cause  have  died, 
Were  stoned,  tormented,  crucified  ; 
From  him,  who  strong  in  trusting  faith, 
Consigned  his  soul  to  Christ  in  death,* 
To  that  now  bright  angelic  choir,  f 
Whose  souls  reached  heaven  on  wings  of  fire. 

I  love  her  for  her  long  array 

Of  mighty  minds  and  sage  ; 
Whose  sacred  lore  poured  floods  of  light 

Upon  a  groping  age  ; 
Of  men  whose  calm  rebuke  could  frown 
Corruption's  wretched  treacheries  down, 
And  check  the  mad  infuriate  zeal 
Weak  souls  just  loosed  from  fetters  feel, 
And  by  their  holy  lives  attest 
The  solemn  truths  their  lips  profest. 


*  The  martyr  Stephen. 

t  The  martyrs  of  the  Reformation. 


THE    CHURCH.  105 

I  love  her  for  her  solemn  words 

Of  fervent  prayer  and  praise, 
Breathed  from  the  lips  of  martyr  saints 

In  better,  holier  days  ! 
For  then  when  death's  sword  o'er  their  head 
Hung  trembling  by  a  single  thread, 
The  spirit  clung  with  love  intense 
Unto  the  thron'd  Omnipotence  ; 
And  from  the  heart  devotion  gushed, 
As  waters  from  the  touched  rock  rushed  ! 

I  love  her  for  her  holy  times  — 

Her  seemly  rites  and  forms, 
Standing  in  beauty  'mid  the  rush 

Of  wild  fanatic  storms. 
The  soul  borne  on  her  circling  days, 
Through  prayer  and  penitence  and  praise  ; 
Now  in  the  dust  most  humbly  bow'd  — 
Now  lifting  anthems  free  and  loud  — 
Finds  utterance  for  her  every  mood 
Of  sorrow,  faith  and  gratitude  ! 

For  things  like  these  I  bless  thee, 
The  Church  — the  Church  of  God  ! 

The  ark  on  death's  all-flooding  wave, 
And  safety's  sole  abode. 


i6B  rnt    church. 

Within  thy  walls  sit  smiling  peace, 
And  prosperous  be  thy  palaces ; 
And  on  thy  towers  benignant  shine, 
The  approving  light  of  love  divine, 
Till  with  the  Church  above  thou  'rt  blent 
On  earth  no  longer  militant  ! 


THE     END 


»©THKRFIEI.1>.  -  Married,  on  Thursday 
August  9th,  at  St.  Mark's  church,  by  the  rector ot 'St  Mark n 
and*  St.  (Joorge's,  Worthington,  in  the  United  States  of  Arue 
rica,  Thomas  J.  Markham,  Esq. ,  late  of  Jamkrw  1,  Sr  L 
England,  to  Anne,  youngest  daughter  of  the  late  Mr  \V  ham 
Hy5er,  of  Rothcrfield,  Susse^  England,  and  sister  to  the  oft- 
dating  clergyman.- 


